Just seven points. That was the largest margin held by either squad. One week after opening its season on the road against Fluvanna County, Albemarle hosted out-of-district archrival Western Albemarle in a match that see-sawed back and forth. However, in the end, the Warriors were able to gut it out and take the match 3-1 in their regular season debut, 25-18, 19-25, 25-21, 25-19.
“You couldn’t ask for a better experience for the first regular season game, to play a tough opponent that really knows how to get up for us,” said Western Albemarle coach Lance Rogers. “It never matters what our records are when we play and I really love playing in this venue. You always get a great group of fans — loud but respectful. It’s just a great atmosphere.”
The two squads split the first two games as the Warriors capitalized on a number of early Patriot miscues, holding onto a five point lead most of the way through to jump out to a 1-0 start.
But Albemarle bounced right back behind a monster of a game from Stephanie Strauss who almost single handedly led the offense. The two teams were neck and neck midway through the game, but Strauss came up with four kills over the next seven points to bring her team from one point behind to six points out in front.
“I’m pretty sure that’s the best match that Stephanie’s ever had,” said Albemarle coach Mark Ragland. “I was real impressed with her intensity tonight. It was nice to see that.”
With the match tied, the best game of the contest also happened to be the most pivotal. The Warriors worked up a three-point lead in the first 11 points, but Albemarle quickly fought back to tie it up at 8-8. The Warrriors then jumped out by four points behind kills from Ana Asher and Alex Gay, a Patriots’ error and an ace from Marin Crowder. Yet just like before, Albemarle would not back down and after a pair of Western mistakes and a pair of Megan Napolitano kills, the game was tied back up at 15. The teams traded the next six points, and then Allie Nicholson stepped up and put Western up by three , 21-18. She then put the game away shortly thereafter.
“We had a couple of mismatches up front that we were able to take advantage of,” Rogers said. “And Asher, she just provided great leadership there not with words, but rather with actions.”
Early on in the fourth and final game, it looked like Albemarle got out to a quick start, working up a 6-point lead by taking 10 of the first 14 points. But the game quickly swung back in Western’s favor and with Asher serving, the Warriors peeled off the biggest run of the match, winning nine consecutive points to go up by three. There were two more lead changes, but with a 1-point lead at 20-19, Western finished the match off by taking the last five points.
“Our defense was off tonight and our passing — which was really good at Fluvanna and has been in practice — was just all over,” Ragland said. “We were misjudging balls and were flat-footed at times. But I was still happy with the way we played. We’re just still trying to figure out who were are.”
As Western’s lone senior on the roster, Asher established herself as a leader the team can count on with her 11-kill, 3-block and 4-ace performance.
“This is my senior year so we had to win this game,” Asher said. “This is always the number one team to beat for us.”
Teammate and setter Riley Martin had a strong game passing, piling up 26 assists. Nicholson was solid on both offense and defense with eight kills to go with 11 digs.
For Albemarle, Strauss led all players with her 17-kill performance. She also had a game high six blocks. Napolitano put together 12 kills and four blocks. Sarah Terlesky had eight digs and 10 service points.
The Warriors (1-0) travel to Fluvanna County on September 9 at 7 p.m. to open up their Jefferson District schedule.
Albemarle (1-1) opens up Commonwealth District play on Thursday at 7 p.m. as well. The Patriots host Stafford.
