Robbinsville – Tuesday was one of the most important matches for Lady Knights volleyball in quite some time.
Attempting to stay in the playoff conversation, Robbinsville held its annual “Pink Night” – a fundraiser for the Graham Cancer Support Group – by hosting Swain County. The Lady Devils have been a pitchfork in the Knights’ side for quite some time, as the visitors carried a 5-match win streak over Robbinsville into the showdown.
Not only did the pairing ignite a fire in the Knights, but the two programs were dueling for third place in the Smoky Mountain Conference. While higher in the rankings would be preferred, at least third in the six-team division increases your chances of receiving a postseason bid.
Early on, it appeared that Robbinsville (16-7, 4-5) was poised to snap the losing streak against its Bryson City foe. The Lady Knights overcame an 11-9 deficit to go on a 13-2 run, easily seizing the momentum to win set one 19-25. Swain County (15-5, 5-4) managed to stay one step ahead in set two, ultimately tying the match with a 25-20 triumph.
With the affair back at square one, the Lady Devils turned up their front-row attack in sets three and four.
Swain picked up a 25-16 nod in the third, but the contest came right down to the wire: errors late were costly to both sides, as the fourth set was locked in a 24-24 stalemate.
Unable to block a final delivery, the Lady Devils left Graham County with the victory.
The latest run started with a home match against Hayesville (12-5, 6-2) on Oct. 3, which the visiting Lady Jackets also won in four: 25-16, 25-12, 18-25, 25-18. Robbinsville then overcame a few scares from Andrews (5-10, 0-7) in make-up action Saturday, sweeping the Lady Wildcats 19-25, 22-25, 11-25.
Murphy (8-9, 2-6) welcomed the Lady Knights on Monday for another make-up appointment, with Robbinsville securing a season sweep of the Bulldogs: 24-26, 25-11, 25-20, 25-12.
JV, middle school
Tomorrow’s varsity competitors also saw plenty of action during the slate.
In JV action, Robbinsville (5-10) fell 25-20, 25-16 to Hayesville; defeated Andrews 15-25, 25-21, 13-15; lost 20-25, 10-25 to Murphy; and easily disposed of Swain County 15-25, 12-25.
The middle school Lady Knights are one win away from a .500 record, as Robbinsville sits at 5-6. The Knights dropped their match to Hayesville, but cruised by the Lady Wildcats 17-25, 9-25. Monday’s trek to Murphy ended in a sweep over the Lady Bulldogs, before Robbinsville conquered the Lady Devils 18-25, 21-25.