ELLERBE — The 2019 girls’ volleyball season for Ellerbe Middle School has been a tough road, but the Lady Wildcats have continued to show improvement in the last handful of matches.
Ellerbe and head coach Krisitn Svitak competed in two more Southeastern Middle School Athletic Conference matches this week, traveling to Spring Hill Middle School on Wednesday before returning home Thursday against Cordova Middle School.
While both matches would see Ellerbe fall and remain winless on the year, the Lady Wildcats did manage to win their first set and keep both matches close. At Spring Hill, Ellerbe fell 11-25, 21-25 in the first match, before seeing the Lady Spartans take game two 25-14 and 25-22.
Svitak noted her team “persevered” in the second set of both games. “I am so proud of these girls for having strong communication and making multiple rallies,” she said.
Zoey Robson had seven aces and added two kills. Mikayla English chipped in four aces and three digs, while Jasmine Martinez led her team with eight aces from the serving line.
In Thursday’s match at in-county rival Cordova, set scores were 26-28 and 12-25 in the first match. Ellerbe trailed 12-24 in the first set, but a serving streak of 13 points from Allie Maynor rallied Ellerbe to take a 25-24 lead. Needing to win by two, the Lady Cavs came back to upset the Lady Wildcats.
After dropping the first set in the second match 20-25, the Lady Wildcats responded with their first set win, a 25-20 winner for force the third set. But Ellerbe would see its hopes dashed as Cordova took over the third stanza and won 15-9.
Maynor’s biggest contribution was her 13-point scoring run, but also chipped in four aces. Robson had another solid performance, picking up four aces and a kill. English rounded out the stat sheet with three kills and a dig.
“Ellerbe played an incredible game against Cordova,” Svitak said. “We are improving so much over this season.”
Ellerbe (0-12) will wrap up regular-season play on Monday at home against Anson Middle School Orange at 4 p.m.
