Grafton put on a serving clinic Tuesday evening, serving up 17 aces during a 25-8, 25-15, 25-14 win at home against Tabb.
The Clippers jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first set before stringing together a 10-0 run thanks to solid serving from Sam Heard, who finished the match with seven aces.
“We try to be as aggressive as possible behind the service line,” Grafton Coach Karissa Cumberbatch said. “We’ve had runs like that in every match that we’ve played.”
Holding a 16-4 lead, Grafton closed the first set winning nine of the final 13 points.
Tabb showed signs of life in the second set as the Tigers took their first lead of the match when they built a 2-0 lead to start.
The Tigers’ lead quickly evaporated as Grafton won five consecutive points to take a 5-2 lead.
Grafton and Tabb traded small runs through the second set until, with the Clippers leading 16-11, the Tigers cut Grafton’s lead to 20-16. The rally attempt was short-lived, however, as Grafton won the final five points of the set to take a 2-0 advantage.
The Clippers jumped on Tabb again in the third set, looking like they were going to run away it after building a quick 6-1 advantage.
Tabb showed heart and battled back to take an 8-7 lead, albeit briefly. The Clippers once again responded to a Tabb rally attempt with a long run of their own, this time in the form of a 12-0 run to go up 22-10 in the deciding set.
Grafton had no trouble closing out the final set, securing a 3-0 match victory to remain perfect on the season.
“I think we did a good job. We came in here and took care of business and did what we needed to do,” Cumberbatch said of Grafton’s performance.
The Clippers (3-0) will look to move to a perfect 4-0 start when they travel to New Kent on Thursday. The Tigers (0-3) are still searching for their first win, which they hope will come on the road against Bruton Thursday.
Grafton def. Tabb 25-8, 25-15, 25-14
Grafton: Sam Heard (7 aces, 8 kills), Kaitlyn Young (28 assists, 4 kills, 3 aces), Sophia Beaudoin (11 digs, 6 kills, 5 aces)
Tabb: Abby Carney (7 assists, 5 digs, 1 kill), Ashley Muhuch (7 digs, ace), Madi Dadez (2 kills, 2 blocks)
Jamestown Hands Lafayette First Loss of 2015
Jamestown’s volleyball team handed Lafayette its first loss of the 2015 season, taking down the Rams on the road Tuesday 25-15, 25-16, 25-10.
Led by Ellie Popielka, who finished the match with a match-high 16 kills, the Eagles were able to easily control all three sets against the Rams.
Maria Esch led the Jamestown defense with 12 digs and a pair of blocks, while Maggie Vinyard added 16 assists on offense.
Abby Oren led the way for Lafayette with nine kills and seven digs, while Kelly Carroll had nine digs and four kills. Abby Goetsch had a team-high 12 assists for the Rams (3-1).
The Eagles (2-0) will face a tough test on the road Thursday when they take on defending state champions Warhill. Meanwhile, Lafayette will look to rebound on the road Thursday against York.
Jamestown def. Lafayette 25-15, 25-16, 25-10
Jamestown: Ellie Popielka (16 kills, 3 blocks), Emma Schriner (9 kills, 2 blocks), Maria Esch (12 digs, 4 kills, 2 blocks), Maggie Vinyard (16 assists)
Lafayette: Abby Oren (9 kills, 7 digs), Kelly Carroll (9 digs, 4 kills), Abby Goetsch (12 assists)
Walsingham Earns First Win in Dramatic Fashion
The Walsingham Academy volleyball team gutted out its first win of the 2015 season, taking out Portsmouth Christian at home Tuesday by a final of 25-13, 25-18, 19-25, 20-25, 15-9.
Two first-set runs — 8-2 and 6-2 — by Walsingham led the Trojans to an easy first-set win. Walsingham built on that momentum with a crucial 7-1 run in the second game that helped the Trojans pull away from a narrow 11-10 lead.
Leading 2-0 in the match, Walsingham took counter punches from Portsmouth Christian, which battled back to take the next two sets.
In the decisive fifth set, Walsingham (1-3) scored four of the final six points to close out the set and clinch the match.
The Trojans will hope to build on their winning ways when they host Norfolk Collegiate on Friday.
Walsingham Academy def. Portsmouth Christian 25-13, 25-18, 19-25, 20-25, 15-9
Stonebridge School Cruises Past WCA
Williamsburg Christian Academy was swept by Stonebridge School 25-23, 25-20, 25-23 at home Tuesday evening.
The Eagles were overmatched by Stonebridge School (8-1) and the combination of Allie Plumblee and Aradhana Khubani.
For Williamsburg Christian Academy, Patricia Davie had a standout performance with 14 kills and 13 blocks.
The Eagles (3-3) will attempt to rebound from the loss when they travel to Norfolk Christian on Thursday.
Stonebridge School def. Williamsburg Christian Academy 25-23, 25-20, 25-23
Stonebridge: Allie Plumblee (9 kills), Aradhana Khubani (11 service points)
WCA: Patricia Davie (14 kills, 13 blocks)
Hampton Roads Academy fought hard against Peninsula Catholic Tuesday evening, but lost in three sets 25-20, 25-21, 25-17.
Leading the way for the Navigators was Kendall Schroder, who paced the defense with nine digs.
Megan Leavey had a team-high five kills for Hampton Roads Academy, while Meghan Lee chipped in four kills.
Hampton Roads Academy (1-5) will look to break its two-match losing streak on the road against Steward School on Thursday.
Peninsula Catholic def. Hampton Roads Academy 25-20, 25-21, 25-17
HRA: Megan Leavey (5 kills), Meghan Lee (4 kills), Kendall Schroder (9 digs)
