VOLLEYBALL: Coeburn Clinches Second Place

BY ANTHONY STEVENS
Sports Correspondent
CASTLEWOOD, Va. – A young, talented Coeburn team clinched second place in the Cumberland District with a 26-28, 25-8, 25-19, 25-13 win over Castlewood on Wednesday.

Coeburn’s only district losses have came to perennial CD power Rye Cove.

The Knights (11-6, 5-2) jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the first set and it appeared it would be an easy night. But Castlewood came back to tie it at 23 on a kill by Ali Ring. Then it was
back and forth down the stretch before a Haley Gilbert kill and Kelsey McReynolds ace won the first game for Castlewood.

“We got ahead a little and I think we relaxed and lost focus,” said Coeburn coach Brianne Casteel. “I had to get on to them a little before the second game. They refocused and played much better.”

In the second game, Coeburn jumped out to a 6-0 lead behind the serving of Samantha Cole. The Devils cut it to 8-3 but Alana Johnson came to the service line and with the great play up front by Lindsay Lawson and Kala Morgan, reeled off eight consecutive points. The Knights were never seriously threatened as they won 25-8 to even the match.

“Cole is just a freshman and this is her first year on varsity,” Casteel said. “She has done a great job serving in the first spot. Lawson and Morgan are only sophomores and they’ve came a long way. They’ve done good job of stepping up, being leaders and making things happen.”

It was tied nine times in the second game, the last time at 15. Coeburn outscored the Devils 10-4 to win the game and take the lead in the match.
Cole was again a factor in the fourth set, serving six straight points in the middle of the game as the Blue Knights pulled away to win the match.

Johnson led Coeburn with 15 service points and Cole was close behind with 12 points. Lawson (19 kills, 21 digs) had a tremendous all-around game, while Morgan (14 kills) and Natasha Burke (7 kills) were tough up front. Lauren McCoy dished out 23 assists for the Blue Knights.

It was a tough final three games for Castlewood (10-9, 2-5) after playing well early.

“We knew Coeburn is a movement oriented and hustling team,” said Castlewood coach Kristen Sparks. “We thought we were going to set the tone with the first game but it didn’t happen.
“Coeburn was hitting their spots. We were making a bad first pass and that was getting our setter out of position. Then we were not in position for what Coeburn was bringing to us.”

Gilbert led the Blue Devils with 12 kills and Ring was also outstanding with 11 kills and seven blocks. Kristin Johnson totaled 17 assists for Castlewood.

Coeburn travels to Twin Springs tonight. Castlewood closes out the regular season next Tuesday at Rye Cove.