Rams end NK tourney run

Lady Trojans Brianne Wayman (23) and Millie Rudolph (10) eyeball a pass by Skylar Cossaboon in the Lafayette match.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Unable to match Lafayette’s power game at the net, New Kent’s Lady Trojans could not advance past the quarterfinal round in Monday’s 3A Conference volleyball tournament opener.

The third-seeded and host Rams hit and blocked their way to a straight set 25-17, 25-16, 25-23 win ending sixth-seeded New Kent’s season at 15-9.

“They pounded us,” said Lady Trojan head coach Cyndi Burnett afterward. “They had bigger, stronger hitters, and that’s a problem that’s bothered us all year.

“We figured this would be a tough match,” she said. “I liked how we put it away in game three, but we didn’t do it enough times.”

The Rams dominated late in both set one and two, ending what had been competitive showings on the part of New Kent. Lafayette attempted to pull away early in the final set, but a pair of Olivia Foster service aces and a Katie Ilch kill evened the affair at 4-4.

Lafayette built a six-point advantage (18-12), but the Lady Trojans refused to fold, outscoring the Rams 10-5 to close the gap to one at 23-22. Daysa Jones’ kill kept the Lady Trojans within one (24-23) but a Ram dink ended the match.

Ilch posted a team-high six kills while Madison Beasley and Brianne Wayman recorded five apiece. Ilch and Foster led in aces with three each while Gina Sledd managed 19 assists. Skylar Cossaboon led the defense with 14 digs.

“I told the girls afterward that this was a good year,” Burnett said. “We probably won a lot more games than people thought we would.

“Our senior leadership was great, and we’ll certainly miss our seven seniors next year,” she said. “I’ll always have fond memories of this team.”