Lady Cavs fall in second place battle with W Iredell

Icard- It was going to be a grueling battle at the net Monday night as the East Burke and West Iredell volleyball teams faced off to break a second-place tie in the Northwestern Foothills 2A Conference standings.

The showdown went to five sets as the Lady Cavs were within distance to end a two-year winless streak against the Lady Warriors but the visitors triumphed at the end to claim victory.

The Lady Cavs (12-3, 6-3 NWFAC) led as much as 11-4 in the opening set with Erica Clontz recording three of her team-leading 27 kills.

The second set was won by the Lady Warriors despite a load of kills from Clontz, Alex Lowman, Riley Haas, and Graleigh Hildebran.

Clontz and Haas teamed up to protect the net to win set three and hold a 2-1 advantage over West Iredell.

Clontz (2 aces) and Kendall Buff were key at the service line for the Lady Cavs early in set four until West Iredell made a late comeback and held on to force a fifth set.

EB led the decisive fifth set by scores of 5-2 and 8-6 until another rally by West Iredell finished off the contest.

Clontz added three aces, seven digs, and two blocks to lead the Lady Cavs with Haas leading in blocks (7) and Hildebran leading in assists (25).

EB hits the road Wednesday to face county rival Patton.

WI       16       25       17       25       15

EB       25       21       25       22       8

Erica Clontz 27 kills, 7 digs, 3 aces, 2 blocks

Graleigh Hildebran 25 assists, 16 digs, 8 kills, 2 blocks

Riley Haas 7 kills, 7 blocks, 3 digs

Erin Newton 19 assists, 9 digs, 4 kills

Kendall Buff 8 digs, kill, ace

Alex Lowman 4 digs, 3 blocks, 2 kills

Ashlyn Stilwell 23 digs

Danielle Foxx 3 blocks

Faith McDowell 2 blocks

NWFAC 2A Standings (9 games)

Foard             9-0

W Iredell       7-2

E Burke         6-3

Patton            5-4

Draughn        4-5

B Hill            3-6

Hibriten         2-7

W Caldwell   0-9