Blue Ridge was no match for Highlands in a volleyball home game on Tuesday night, getting shut out by the Highlanders 3-0 (25-22, 25-11, 25-17).
The first set was a tug of war between the two teams early in the game, and both sides would pull away some before the set tied at 8-8 thanks to a four-point run by Highlands.
Back and forth the two teams danced, and when the score was 12-11, Highlands pulled off another four-point streak, landing the game at 16-11.
Blue Ridge tied with Highlands 21-21 late in the set and although Mercedes McLaughlin posted another point for the home team, the first set went to Highlands when they were the first to reach 25 at 25-22.
Highlands must have put a spell on Blue Ridge before the second set. The Highlanders came out of the gate swinging with an early 3-0 lead. Blue Ridge would clock in a point here or there, but it was a series of three-point runs that catapulted the Highlanders to a 25-11 win in the second set.
The Bobcats woke up from their slumber in the third set and played similarly to how they ran the first. Blue Ridge started with two unanswered points, which were echoed by Highlands.
McLaughlin cut off the Highlanders’ run with a kill, and the two teams went around in circles around each other for the first half of the set.
When the score was 9-7, Highlands pulled away with a five-point run.
Blue Ridge prevented the Highlanders from completely running away with the game, but Highlands outscored their opponents 6-3 in the closing minutes of the match. The score for the third set was 25-17.
With the win, Highlands improved to 8-9 overall on the season, 4-0 in Little Smoky Mountain 1-A conference play.
The Highlanders and Bobcats will have a rematch tonight at 6 p.m. in Highlands for the final conference game of the regular season.