By KIM NELSON
It was a close contest and both teams battled hard, but the Cougars of Pulaski County Middle School came up just short and fell to Blacksburg, 25-27, 19-25.
The Cougars led 8-2 early and 12-6 at one point and led most of the way. Pulaski led 23-21, but allowed Blacksburg to tie it 23-23. The score went back and forth and was tied at 25-25, but the Cougars couldn’t put it away.
PCMS was perfect from the service line in the opening contest, led by Lainie Cobbs’ 8-for-8 performance. Vivian Hash was 5-for-5, Comley Meyer 4-for-4, Jovi Perdue 3-for-3, Chloe Thompson and Kiylee Taylor were both 2-for-2, and Riley Shepardson and Abby Bishop were both 1-for-1. Cobbs and Hash teamed for five assists. Meyer led the Cougars’ offensive attack with four hits, while Perdue and Hash each chipped in one. Perdue and Meyer were the top passers.
In the second set, Meyer was 6-for-6 from the service line, Bishop was 4- for-4, Perdue 4-for-5, Cobbs 3-for-3, and Hash 1-for-1. Perdue collected three hits, Shepardson chipped in two, and Taylor added one. Cobbs and Hash combined for five assists. Meyer and Perdue were the top passers.
The Cougars claimed the B game, 25-15 to push their record to 10-1 on the season. Axton Davis and McKenzie Robinson were both 4-for-4 from the service line. Sophia Exconde was 5-for-6, and Zaley Manns was 4-for-6.
Exconde, Shanchez and Addie Phillips each added two hits, and Robinson one. Davis and Phillips combined for six assists. Davis and Phillips were the top passers.