Lady Wildcats rally for key district victory over Knox Central
Oak Ridge’s’ Peyton Uptgraft gets a block in the Lady Wildcats’ 3-1 win over Central last week. (photo:Jayden Davis ORHS Sports Media )
After dropping the first set to Knox Central, the Lady Wildcats came back to capture a 25-27, 25-22, 31-29, 25-23 victory over the Lady Bobcats at Wildcat Arena.
The Lady Wildcats (3-7 overall, 3-1 in the district) featured a balanced hitting attack against Central. Maggie Williams led the way with 15 kills, seven digs, and six service aces. Christian McGinnis added 12 kills. Camryn McGinnis finished with nine kills and recorded two blocks. Peyton Uptgraft had five kills, three blocks, and led Oak Ridge with 31 assists. Marissa Kenworthy finished with 25 digs.
On Wednesday, Aug. 28, the Lady Wildcats lost a two-set match at Webb School of Knoxville, falling 25-16, 25-14. Camryn McGinnis and Williams totaled three kills each. Uptgraft and Christian McGinnis recorded two kills apiece. Uptgraft also had a block, eight assists, and two digs.
The Lady Wildcats suffered their first league loss of the season as they were swept by Knoxville Halls, 25-21, 26-24, 25-19.
“We had 11 hitting errors in that first set, and we might’ve missed a couple,” ORHS coach Audrey Sherles said. “We have the court awareness and the volleyball knowledge, but we get into our heads sometimes. We have to do a better job channeling our energy.”
In the second set, the Lady Wildcats jumped out to a 7-1 lead and had a 22-20 advantage before the Lady Devils stormed back to claim a 26-24 win and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
In the final game, the Lady Devils opened with an 11-4 lead and never relinquished control. The Lady Wildcats, however, rallied and pulled to within 20-19 on an ace by Williams before Halls High’s Autumn Appleby scored the final five service points of the match.
Williams and Camryn McGinnis had four kills each at Halls, while Uptgraft finished with eight assists.
Oak Ridge was set to host first-place Clinton on Tuesday, but results were not available at press time.