Tazewell downs Richlands in district volleyball

By DAVE COX/Staff
What a difference a day makes!
One day after reeling in two good Abingdon volleyball teams in Southwest District matches, Richlands was just not up to the task against SWD rival Tazewell last Wednesday at the Richlands High School gym.
Tazewell swept the junior varsity match 2-0 by scores of 25-17, 25-22, reversing a 2-1 win by the young Lady Blues earlier this season at Tazewell. The Tazewell varsity rolled to a 3-1 victory by scores of 25-18, 25-19, 23-25, 25-11 Wednesday to give the Lady Bulldogs a sweep of the two regular season meetings between the two squads.
Tazewell made short work of the Lady Blues in the junior varsity match, easily taking the first game 25-17, overcoming an early 3-2 lead by Richlands. The Lady Bulldogs never trailed after that.
RHS again took the early edge in the second game and there were several ties before the visitors finally pulled out a close 25-22 verdict to win the match in a sweep.
Morgan Pauley led Tazewell at the service line with 10 points, including three aces. Kelsey Shupe supplied eight points for THS, Taylor Dingus seven, Julianne Hart three, Kimberly Ruble two (one ace) and Madison Fielder and Sarah Waddle one each (one ace apiece).
Richlands was led by Junetta Nuckles with six service points (two aces), Bond Warner five (two aces), Brittany Allen three (one ace), Rachel Wells three,  Keisha Lynch and Reagan Davis two each and Hannah Wells one (one ace).
Lindsey Scribner came up big for Tazewell in the varsity match, serving up 11 straight service points to start the Bulldogs on their way to an easy 25-11 win in the fourth game and a match victory. Scribner led her team with 12 service points. Cara Cecil had 11 points (three aces), Natasha Blankenship (four aces) and Natalie Parsons (three aces) 10 each, Sydnei Lester eight (four aces), Becca Pike eight (one ace) and Molly Altizer one. Lester and Parsons turned in five kills each for the Bulldogs and Cecil added four. Scribner handed out 12 assists and Lester had four blocks.
“They definitely were excited, they live for this match,” said Tazewell head coach Julie Burton of her players. “This is one of those rivalries where it doesn’t matter what the teams are like, everybody brings their best.”
Cassie Ringstaf topped the Richlands effort with 12 service points (three aces). Ashley Morgan finished with eight points (one ace), Jordyn Cole six, Catherine Smith four (one ace), Chelsea Asbury four (one ace) and Samantha Martin two. Morgan came up with seven kills. Ringstaff dished out five assists and Morgan Hill chipped in with 11 digs.
“We had a lot of miscues, the service points were pretty rough tonight, we didn’t get the ball up and hit the ball into the net too much and Tazewell took advantage of all those freebies we gave them,’ said RHS head coach Ronnie Sparks. “The girls probably got a little down on themselves and they were probably tired from last night.. We just didn’t execute well.”