The Catawba Ridge Copperheads boys’ volleyball team picked up a key Region 3-5A win over the Blythewood Bengals in four sets.
Catawba Ridge won 3-1 (22-25, 25-11, 25-19, 25-19) to improve to 12-6 overall and 7-3 in region. The Copperheads are in a dog fight with other region teams like Blythewood, Clover, and Indian Land for a region title. In boys’ volleyball, Blythewood remains in the region from last season despite realignment due to a lack of schools in their area that have the sport.
“It is going to come down to we determine our on fate,” said Catawba Ridge head boys’ volleyball coach Ross Lisee. “This puts us in a good place for the playoffs. I feel like we have grown up a lot. It is not how we start; it is how we finish.”
Blythewood started strong in the opening set going up 5-0. The Bengals were able to maintain control despite Catawba Ridge cutting into their lead.
Blythewood went up 12-7, before the Copperheads were able to crawl back into the match scoring three of the next four points.
The Bengals rattled off four of the next five points which led to Catawba Ridge taking a timeout trailing 17-11.
Blythewood kept the momentum in their corner out of the timeout and went on to take the first set, but not before Catawba Ridge pulled within one at 23-22.
The Copperheads were the ones starting strong in the second set jumping out to a 10-2 lead before a Blythewood timeout. Catawba Ridge scored 11 straight points in the set and went up 13-3 with the help of a series of serves from Travis Baddeley.
Catawba Ridge was dominant in the second set keeping Blythewood off balance and going up 18-6, before closing it out to take the second set and tie the match.
Despite finishing with the momentum, Catawba Ridge couldn’t hold onto it and Blythewood jumped out to a 9-4 lead to open the third set.
Cole Stukitz served the Copperheads back into the set with five consecutive points before a timeout by the Bengals. Catawba Ridge forced Blythewood into another quick timeout this time leading 17-14.
The Bengals were able to keep the set close, but once the rally occurred by Catawba Ridge, they were able to push the pace to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Copperheads got off to another good start in the fourth set going up 8-3. Catawba Ridge was able to hold that lead and attack at the net with aggressive play as they went up 21-15.
The Copperheads again were able to close the set out without losing any momentum to win the match.
Oct. 3 Roundup
The Fort Mill boys’ volleyball team got a win over Rock Hill in four sets winning 3-1 (25-19, 23-25, 25-16, 25-14). The win improved Fort Mill to 3-7 in Region 3-5A and 5-12 overall.
The Nation Ford boys’ volleyball team fell 3-0 (28-26, 25-19, 27-25) to Indian Land to drop to 3-7 in Region 3-5A and 7-10 overall.
The Fort Mill girls’ volleyball team swept Rock Hill 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 26-24) to improve to 8-8 on the season and 4-5 in Region 3-5A.
The Nation Ford girls’ volleyball team swept Indian Land 3-0 (25-11, 25-14, 25-14) to improve to 28-2 on the season and 8-0 in Region 3-5A.
The Catawba Ridge girls’ volleyball team lost a road match to Marvin Ridge 3-0 to drop to 10-7 overall.
The Fort Mill girls’ golf team beat Rock Hill at Tega Cay Golf Club 194-to-226. Fort Mill was led by a 43 from Sam Benton and a 49 from Claire Collins. Both Ava Starosky and Olivia Siefert shot rounds of 51 as well for the Jackets. The win puts Fort Mill at 6-2 on the season.
The Nation Ford girls’ tennis team beat Indian Land 5-1 to improve to 7-2 overall on the season and 7-1 in Region 3-5A. Getting wins for Nation Ford was Ava Baldino 6-3, 6-2; Ansley McDonald 6-0, 6-1; Eva Mabey 6-2, 6-2; Reagan Newman 6-1, 6-1; and in doubles Kavya Nimmagadda and Yoshi Battula 6-3, 6-4.
The Fort Mill girls’ tennis team beat Rock Hill 6-0 in their match Thursday and improved to 8-0 on the year. Winning for Fort Mill was Emily Rimmer 6-2, 6-1; Reagan Adams 7-5, 6-4; Hannah Swainey 6-4, 6-4; Justine Das 6-1, 6-0; and Avalon Stevens 6-3, 2-6, 10-6. Abhi Nallaredy and Maddie Burcham won in doubles 7-5, 6-2.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
