The Elkin High School Varsity Volleyball team hosted the Rams of Starmount in NH Carpenter Gymnasium on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Looking to avenge their earlier loss to the Rams on the road in September, the Lady Elks were better prepared for their rivals in the re-match. The Elks came out strong, with no resemblance to the team that traveled to Starmount just four weeks prior. Elkin took the win in just four sets, 3-1.
The Elks set the pace for the night early in the first set. Led by sophomore Alyssa Jenkins serving, Elkin takes a 13-2 lead with 10 straight points, giving rise to the Rams’ first timeout of the game. The timeout does help the Rams muster some energy and change in momentum to bring the score to 18-12. But the Elks go on another run with junior Chaney Parsons serving for 7 more straight points to close out the set, 25-12.
The second set is a repeat of the first, with the Elks coming out strong and taking a solid lead at 11-5. The Rams call for another timeout, but the break does little to change the pace of the game as the Lady Elks deliver point after point with great balanced offensive execution with good passes from libero junior Mackenzie White, good sets from sophomore Lauren Macemore and great kills from seniors Presley Baker and Ayla Ford, junior Kentlee Phillips and sophomore Mavery Renegar. The Elkin frontline also did a great job defensively, working the net and accumulating several blocks from Baker, Ford and Parsons, stretching the lead to 17-8. Sophomore Zoey Cincotti take the Elks to the finish line, serving 5 straight points. The Elks take the set decisively, 25-10.
The Rams, refusing to fade away quietly, come out in the third set fighting. They take the early lead, 0-4. But the Elks wake up from their lull and right the score, 4-4. The two teams trade points, tying the score 8 times during the set. The Rams manage to eek ahead, prompting Elkin’s head coach, Jon Symons to call for his first timeout of the evening with the score, 15-19. The timeout seems to be effective as the Elks slowly chip away points and again bring the game to 20-all. But the Rams, fighting hard to survive, win the next point and the momentum. Even though the Elks managed to tie the score one last time at 21-all, the Rams squeak out the win, 22-25.
With the Rams still in survival mode, the fourth set greatly mimics the third set. The Rams come out strong and take a 1-4 lead. But once again, the Elks come alive and fight back to tie the score 6-6. Again, the teams trade points and tie the score for the fourth time during the set at 11-all. The Elks then jump ahead 17-11 fueled by a couple of kills each from Baker and Phillips. But the Rams hang in and rally to tie the score again at 20-all before the teams trade points again. The score is tied for the seventh and final time at 24-all. Baker seals the win for her team with a blistering kill followed by a block, to give the Elks the set, 26-24 and a much needed conference win.
The win, the third straight for the Elks, bring their record to 4-5 in conference play and 5-12, overall. Elkin will face off with the Trojans of Alleghany High School on Thursday. The loss for the Rams bring their record to 2-6 in conference play and 2-13, overall, ending the Rams 1-game winning streak. The Rams will next meet with the Sauras of top-ranked South Stokes on Thursday.
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