Warlassies stay hot with win over Mountain Heritage
Owen volleyball surges to second spot in Western Highlands Conference
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
October 5, 2022
The Owen volleyball team moved into second place in the Western Highlands Conference, Oct. 4, as the Warlassies dispatched Mountain Heritage for their fourth straight victory.
Owen, which has won six of its last seven matches, overcame a slow start to top the Cougars, 3-1, improving to 11-5 on the season.
Wearing bright pink jerseys in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Warlassies fell behind early in the first set to Mountain Heritage, which defeated Owen at home in September. The Cougars took the opening set, 25-11, setting up a second that featured seven lead changes.
The Warlassies, led by seniors Maesyn Gardner and Carly Hancock, knotted the match, 1-1, with a 25-23 victory in the second set. The home team took control in the subsequent sets, capturing the third, 25-15, and clinching the win with a 25-9 showing in the fourth set.
The Warlassies took sole possession of second place in the WHC with the victory.
“We came out slow tonight,” Owen volleyball head coach Kristy Kamer said after the game. “But, at the end of the day, we try to challenge these kids to pull together. They showed a lot of grit, and they got it done.”
The win came one week after the Warlassies defeated conference leader, Draughn, on the same court.
Three of the team’s final five matches will be against WHC competition, as the Warlassies will travel to Rosman, Thursday, Oct. 6, to face the reigning conference champions. Owen defeated the Tigers, 3-2, at home in September.
While the victory keeps Owen’s WHC title hopes alive, the team still has a lot of work to do, according to the coach.
“We need to win out, and for other teams to beat Draughn,” Kamer said. “But, our priority is taking care of business on our end, and putting ourselves in the best position possible.”
Photos of the Warlassies’ victory over Mountain Heritage can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.