Potosi spikes win over West County

LEADWOOD — An improved overall effort from the West County volleyball team could not nullify a 9-0 deficit in game one Wednesday night, as Potosi controlled the action along the net for a 25-16, 25-18 road win.

Setter Jordan Harbison recorded the majority of her 16 assists on nine kills from Ashley Thompson and six by Megan Rolens, as Potosi (7-6-1) displayed an especially effective presence in the middle.

Senior Melinda Bust served 10 points and made six digs on the back row for the Lady Trojans. Her consecutive aces made the score 6-0, and the early streak continued with a double block by Kelsey Hampton and Thompson.

West County (2-6) climbed back into the opening stanza by scrambling to keep rallies alive, and reduced the margin to 12-8 when senior Rikki Lashley directed an overpass to the floor.

Lashley recorded four kills and seven digs to pace the Lady Bulldogs, who continued their charge within 17-14 when Felicia Crick followed Ashley Dane’s short spike with an ace.

But three consecutive missed serves proved costly for the host squad, and Harbison connected on ensuing middle sets to Rolens and Thompson as the Lady Trojans restored their comfortable lead.

Jennifer Pinson compiled eight points on the strength of five aces during game two, notching her final one at match point. The senior libero also sparked an earlier 7-0 spurt that helped Potosi build a 13-5 advantage.

A brief serve-receiving lapse by the Lady Trojans resulted in two aces each for Lashley and Brittany Tongay, and timely digging eventually brought West County within 19-17, but Potosi claimed the next two points on hitting errors.

Tongay tallied a team-high seven points, and Crick made six assists for the Lady Bulldogs. Dane added four digs and matched Kayla Johnston with two kills each.