Strong start
Uniontown sweeps Albert Gallatin in Section 3-3A opener
Uniontown opened Section 3-3A play Tuesday night in a 3-0 victory over Albert Gallatin at AJ Everhart Memorial Gymnasium in girls volleyball action.
The Lady Red Raiders won by set scores of 25-18, 25-21 and 25-19 to improve to 2-0 this season.
Uniontown coach Paulina Nottingham is in her first season at the helm, and is eager when it comes to the Lady Red Raiders’ potential.
“It feels good to win our section opener and get a sweep,” Nottingham said. “One of our end-of-season goals was to beat a team 3-0, and I think to beat an end-of-season goal in the second week is a pretty good time.”
The Lady Colonials (0-1, 0-2) scored the first point in the opening set before Uniontown went on an 8-1 run for a six-point lead that prompted Albert Gallatin coach Baylee Groover to take a timeout.
“I think our biggest issue tonight was communication,” Groover said. “We were very rough with communication. We got down in the beginning, and we had to work our way back up.”
The Lady Red Raiders extended their advantage to 13-5 following a kill by Lyric McLee, but the Lady Colonials used a 6-1 run to cut the deficit to 14-11.
McLee, a senior, was solid in the front row, as she mixed technique and strength to finish her attacks. Fellow senior Maggie Campbell dominated at the service line, and worked to set up her teammates while finishing attacks from the right side.
“It feels really good to start the season 2-0 and have both of our wins come against Fayette County opponents,” Cunningham said. “I feel really proud of me and my teammates because we put in a lot of work this summer, and so far this season, so being able to show people what we can do feels really good.”
Libero Qua’Mari Scott saved many points for her team, and freshman Tessa Livingood was strong in the front row, as she hindered Albert Gallatin’s attacks with blocks.
Tessa’s sister, Ava Livingood, was pleased to see her younger sister succeed at the varsity level.
“I love seeing her out there, and seeing her play a sport other than softball and doing very well at it,” Ava Livingood said.
Nottingham took a timeout and Uniontown regrouped to close the set in scoring 11 out of the next 18 points to win the opening set.
The home team built up a 11-3 lead in the second set, but a 6-0 run from the visitors cut the Lady Red Raiders’ advantage to two.
Albert Gallatin kept battling and the second set was tied at 21-21 before Uniontown scored the next four points for a 2-0 set lead.
“From the first scrimmage until now, our girls have already grown and gotten so much better,” Groover said. “We are improving every day and ready for the next game.”
The third set followed a scoring pattern from the second with the Lady Red Raiders building up an early lead before the Lady Colonials fought back to tie the set at 14-14.
Uniontown closed the set and match after outscoring Albert Gallatin, 11-5.
“As a team, we served very well with minimal errors and our defense was scrappy,” Nottingham said. “We were not letting the ball touch the floor without an effort.”
The Lady Colonials’ Mikayla Shea had five kills, three aces, an assist and block. Teammate Paityn Goletz had six assists, four kills, one block and one ace.
Riylee Abel (4 assists, 3 digs, 2 aces, 2 kills); Gabby Penrose (4 digs, 3 kills, 2 aces, 1 assist); Lily Mick (3 digs, 2 aces, 1 assist); Isabelle Usher (3 kills, 1 block) and Ellie Seese (5 kills) also contributed for Albert Gallatin.