Powerhouse Middlesex spoils Charles City’s volleyball Senior Night

Charles City's Skye Bradby bumps the ball that leads to one of the very few scores of the night.

Andre' Jones photo

Charles City Lady Panthers’ volleyball team has struggled throughout the season. Not doing them any favors is the fact that they play in a Tidewater District that see top teams night in and night out. On Oct. 17, a Senior Night matchup with the second-ranked Group 1A Middlesex Lady Chargers proved to be too much of a task for the homestanding Lady Panthers.

Middlesex lived up to its high ranking, disposing of the hosts 25-3, 25-9, 25-2 in the final home contest of the year for Charles City.

Set one saw the hosts fall behind 11-1 quickly to Middlesex. After the Lady Panthers strung together two consecutive points, Lady Charger libero Elizabeth Ketner’s ace provided the spark of a 12-0 run to clinch the first frame.

Skye Bradby’s bump on a volley fell between two Lady Charger defenders to help Charles City slice an early second set deficit to three (7-4). But Middlesex powered through the adversity, scoring the next seven points before closing out the set in comfortable fashion. The final frame was a disaster for the hosts, as the Lady Chargers scored the first 17 points before the hosts put a dent in the scoreboard. But without any offensive spark, the Lady Panthers finished their home season winless.

Charles City Head Coach Vickie Williams tried to look at the bright side of a difficult contest.

“We worked hard,” she said. “We were facing one of the top teams in the state.

“It all comes down to teamwork,” she concluded.

The Lady Panthers fall to 0-16.