When Western Albemarle needed a kill Tuesday night, Katie Rossberg got it for them.
And if she didn’t, Ana Asher did.
After she spent the week before Western’s season opener against Albemalre under the weather, Rossberg came back in the Warriors’ second game with a vengeance, unleashing 14 kills and three blocks in a 3-0 victory over Fluvanna County that served as both squads’ season opener.
“Katie was really all over it tonight,” said Western coach Lance Rogers. “When you run a credible middle, then it forces the blockers to be honest.”
Rossberg and Asher, who came up with 13 kills, combined to give Western a near-unstoppable presence in the middle as they finished consistently for the Warriors’ efficient offense. Riley Martin, now in her third season as a key setter for Western, steadied things and came up with 29 assists, largely from setting the table for Asher and Rossberg.
“(Martin) is just extraordinary at running the court,” Rogers said. “She’s totally aware of everything out there and she keeps everybody engaged in the match..”
The Fluvanna/Western matchups last season were tightly-contested, hard-fought battles, but Western had the significant upper hand Thursday. While both squads graduated several elite hitters, Western has adjusted better early on with Asher back and Rossberg and Allie Nicholson stepping in.
Fluvanna is largely rebuilding around sophomore hitter Hannah Miller, and Fluvanna got a strong performance from Miller against the Warriors as she came up with 10 kills.
Western largely neutralized the Fluvanna attack though, rolling to 25-11, 25-20 and 25-11 wins. The Flucos did find a bit of a rhythm in the second game and took a 16-15 lead on a Miller kill. But Rossberg followed shortly thereafter with a kill and block back-to-back that helped Western pull away.
“We’re young and they’re learning,” said Fluvanna coach Christi Harlowe-Garrett. “They’re learning that fight.”
Fluvanna and Western are both slated to compete this weekend in the Albemarle Tournament, hosted by the Patriots and with a field that includes teams like Franklin County, Stonewall Jackson and Liberty Christian Academy.
