Pam Pack wins first of two scheduled meetings

PINETOWN — Two of Beaufort County’s best high school volleyball teams met on the same court Monday night for the first of a two-game series.

Riding a four-game winning streak, Washington secured its eighth win of the season in convincing fashion, defeating a quality Northside team, 3-0.

Entering as one of three favorites to take the Coastal Plains Conference with a 7-3 record, it had been two weeks since the Panthers dropped a game. But the one-two punch of senior hitter Adriana Tyson and sophomore setter Sarah Lynch proved too much for Alex Adams and the Northside hitters on Monday.

“Sarah Lynch and Adriana Tyson are finally getting on the same page and are able to produce,” said Washington head coach Kelly Slade. “We’ve been trying to work all season on our team communicating. As we’re progressing in the season, the communication is getting better and is really thriving with Adriana and Sarah. They work well together … and the numbers prove it.”

Tyson, who finished with a match-high 18 kills, has been the Pam Pack’s main hitter through the season so far, while Lynch has led the way in assists.

However, it was Briley Waters providing Tyson with early kill opportunities. Since being promoted from junior varsity, the Pam Pack sophomore setter has continued to produce, racking up eight assists to compliment Tyson’s seven kills in the first game.

Efficient ball movement from playmakers like Adams and Madison Tetterton, along with solid defense from Rachel and Kelsey Lang, kept Northside in the game, but in the end, Washington locked up a closely contested 25-22 win.

The second game was all Washington, as senior Abby Walker notched five aces and Tyson recorded another eight kills in a 25-12 win.

In a competitive third game, the Panthers rebounded from the Game 2 rout, but were unable to finish. Washington closed the match with a 25-17 win, improving its record to 8-6 on the season.

“We are making strides every day to reach our goal of a conference championship and just get better as athletes,” Slade said. “I’m excited we’re continuing to move forward. It makes me and the girls feel like all the work that we put in this summer, preseason and during out-of-conference play has really paid off.”

On top of her high kill count, Tyson also finished with six aces and five blocks. Lynch posted 13 assists, while Walker recorded five aces and seven kills.

Washington fill face Farmville Central at home Thursday, while Northside squares off against Pamlico County.

The Pam Pack and Panthers will meet on the same court one more time this season on Oct. 6 in Washington. Slade expects the next matchup to be more competitive than the first.

“They’re really successful in their conference and we’re really successful in ours,” she said. “I think the next matchup will be a good game.”