By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
The Yellow Jackets buzzed to a four-set match victory over Pendleton County to celebrate senior night during homecoming week this past Thursday in the Hive: 23-25, 25-21, 25-16 and 25-22.
Moorefield Volleyball recognized its six seniors: Carlee Haines (Potomac State College of WVU, nursing major and softball player), Seanna Heavner (Potomac State College of WVU, undecided major), Korbin Keplinger (college, radiation therapy major), Sydney Rumer (college, surgical technician), Elektra Sions (Florida Atlantic University, exercise science major for physical therapy) and Hannah Snyder (Potomac State College of WVU, veterinarian major).
“These senior girls, I have been with them all four years whether it be basketball or volleyball. They’re the first girls I ever coached and I coached boys before that. These are my first girls, so they are very special to me. Honestly, Pendleton County is a formidable opponent and I am pretty sure that they are ranked in the Top-10 in the state. They always play good volleyball. It was a close five setter up there. To come get a four set win here on our home court, especially on senior night means the world to me. I am happy to get it for these girls,” Moorefield Volleyball coach Kellan Snyder remarked.
Moorefield seniors started the match with Hannah Snyder serving to Pendleton County’s Elizabeth Alt, who made a dig and a volley back by Baylee Beachler was met with a dig from Carlee Haines.
Korbin Keplinger made a block for the first Yellow Jackets point.
Beachler responded with a spike for the Wildcats.
Moorefield answered as Sydney Rumer notched a kill and stated serving, 2-1.
Alt made a spike and Brynlynn Waggy blocked a shot for the Wildcats to take the lead.
There were errors on both sides, then Raleigh Kuykendall scored a point for Moorefield.
Both teams served out of bounds, then Elektra Sions created a point on a non-returnable serve to regain the Moorefield lead 6-5.
After a serve into the net, Kuykendall recorded two kills and a block to take a 9-7 lead.
Moorefield’s Seanna Heavner had a serve return into the net, then Keplinger slammed a spike, 11-7.
After an error, Pendleton County’s Alt pushed a point through a block and Beachler swatted a volley to close the gap to 11-10.
Keplinger earned a couple points on attacks for the Yellow Jackets.
Waggy garnered points on an attack and serve for the Wildcats, while Beachler made a kill to grab a 16-15 lead.
A service error tied the game, then an attack by Lexi VanMeter put Moorefield back ahead and Sions delivered three aces for a 20-16 advantage.
Pendleton County rallied with the help of several errors, plus points by Beachler and Waggy to take the first set 25-23.
Pendleton County’s Alyssa Bennett served an ace to commence the second set, but the ensuing serve went into the net.
Heavner served and it was returned for a point by Alt prior to a service error.
The Yellow Jackets scored three straight points as Snyder served and made digs with Sions making points on attacks.
The Wildcats got a point back on an error, then Moorefield answered with an attack point by Rumer and Sions sandwiched two aces around a volley returned out for a 9-3 edge.
VanMeter launchd a spike, then a serve hit the net.
Alt recorded an ace for the Wildcats, then Moorefield responded with a dig by Snyder and kill from VanMeter.
Keplinger kept the momentum going with an ace for the Yellow Jackets, 12-5.
There was a long back-and-forth series before Alt forced an error and Avery Townsend notched an ace for Pendleton County.
Kuykendall made two straight blocks for Moorefield going up 15-7.
Haines made a dig and scored a point moments later on an attack, then Snyder delivered two aces to put the Yellow Jackets up 20-12.
Some errors down he stretch and aces from Alt and Townsend helped the Wildcats close the gap to 22-19.
Moorefield finished the second set for a 25-21 win to tie the match as VanMeter made a dink and it couldn’t be saved on a dive.
The Yellow Jackets buzzed ahead 4-nil in the third set as Sions landed a kill, Snyder served two aces and Keplinger blocked a volley.
Pendleton County rallied to tie the set at 5-all as Waggy got an attack point, Breena Bowers served an ace and Townsend made a block in addition to errors.
Moorefield built a 10-6 lead with help from errors, plus a spike by Keplinger, an ace served by Sions and a tap by Kuykendall not returned back.Te Yellow Jackets had good defense with digs coming for Heavner and Sions.
The Wildcats committed errors as Kuykendall kept attacks going at the net, 17-8.
Rumer notched a couple points and served up an ace before a kill by Sions for a 22-12 advantage.
Kuykendall made a block and a serve by Annie Barr wasn’t returned to finish the third set victory for the Yellow Jackets, 25-16.Keplinger and Kuykendall mab locks during the fourth set, while Sions and Snyder helped to keep the floor clear with digs.
Moorefield won the fourth set 25-22 with the final point coming on an ace by CiCi Kump for a 3-1 match win.
The Yellow Jackets went to Petersburg to start the sectional playoffs on Monday and the winner advances to the championship tonight. The winner will face either the top seeded Philip Barbour on the road or host Liberty Harrison depending on the winning team.
