By KIM NELSON
The Pulaski Middle School volleyball team raised its record to 10-2 on the season Monday evening as the Cougars knocked off Fort Chiswell. It was a battle to the end with PCMS coming away with a 25-23, 28-26 victory. In their first meeting, Pulaski took a 25-14, 25-10 victory.
In the first contest, Pulaski missed just one serve, after having an off day serving in their last match. Jayden Brown led the way with a 7-for-7 performance. Sandy Santos was 5-for-5, and Ryleigh Dean, Ainsley Vaughan and Jagger Davis were all 3-for-3.
Davis led the Cougars’ offensive attack with six hits, while Bailey Viars chipped in four, Natalie Kinder two, and Brown and Gracie Painter each had one as PCMS recorded a season-high 14 hits. Vaughan and Dean combined for 14 assists and seven tips. The Cougars finished with 13 tips. Top passers were Vaughan, Davis, and Dean.
In the second game, led 14-9 at one point, but allowed the Pioneers to get back into the game as the game stood tied 20-20. The Pioneers tied it again at 22-22, but the Cougars took a 24-22 lead, but could not put it away. The game was tied again at 24-24, but the score went back and forth with neither team being able to get a two-point advantage for the win. It was tied at 25-25 and 26-26, before the Cougars with the serve managed to earn the final two points for the win.
Brown again led the way from the service line going 8-for-8. Dean was 5-for-5, Davis 3-for-3, Vaughan and Viars were both 2-for-3, Santos 3-for-4 and Bethenny King 1-for-1.
Davis and King paced the Cougars’ offensive attack with five hits each, Kinder chipped in two, and Painter and Brown each added one. Dean and Vaughan teamed for 12 assists and six tips. Vaughan, King and Davis were the top passers.
In the extra two games, PCMS won 15-13, 15-9.
Isabella Osborne turned in a 4-for-4 performance from the service line to lead the Cougars. Aundrea Stump was 3-for-3, Madison Akers 3-for-4, Maddie Rinehardt 2-for-2, and Adalyn Arnold 1-for-1. Devae Carter tallied two hits and Rinehardt had two assists. Stump and Carter were the top passers.
In the second game, Arnold was 4-for-5 from the service line, Akers 3-for-4, Kaya Harriman 2-for-2, and Rinehardt 2-for-3. Carter had one hit and Arnold one assist. Akers was the top passer.
The Cougars will host Carroll County on Thursday at 4:30 and it was be eighth grade night for the 11 eighth graders on the team and one eighth grader on the “B” team.