JACKSON - The Waterford High volleyball team kept its postseason hopes alive with a sweep over Portsmouth Clay Thursday at Jackson High School in a district semifinal matchup.
The Lady Wildcats, led by head coach Jandy Drayer, now have their sights set on a district championship. They will have to get past TVC-Hocking champion Eastern, who defeated Waterford twice, both times in four sets, this season.
With the win Thursday, Waterford improved to 20-4 on the season. Clay fought the Wildcats hard, as Waterford trailed in two out of the three sets. The Wildcats were able to rally both times to complete the sweep.
Waterford was led by senior Brooke Drayer, who had a team-leading 14 kills and three blocks, Drayer also pitched in eight digs and seven points.
Senior Chelsey Paxton led the team with 12 digs, and also had nine kills and five points. Junior Alyssa Miller paced the team with a whopping 44 assists, to go along with nine points.
Other key contributors for the Wildcats were senior Jayde Heiss (four points, eight kills, five digs), junior Laura Hill (seven kills, eight digs, three points), sophomore Taylor Hilverding (nine kills, five digs, five points, two aces) and junior Katie Semon (four digs).
Clay had a size advantage on Waterford in the match, but the Wildcats used their speed, serving and passing abilities to get the offense going. Once Clay's bigger players got into the back row, Waterford was able to take advantage and go on scoring runs.
The district championship against Eastern will be taking place Saturday (Oct. 27) at Jackson High School. The tentative start time is 4 p.m.
Division IV District Semifinal
At Jackson High School
Waterford d. Portsmouth Clay 25-15, 25-22, 25-23
Waterford (20-4) stats: Brooke Drayer 7pts, 3aces, 14kills, 3blocks, 8digs; Jayde Heiss 4pts, 1ace, 8kills, 5digs; Laura Hill 3pts, 1ace, 1asst, 7kills, 8digs; Taylor Hilverding 5pts, 2aces, 1asst, 9kills, 5digs; Alyssa Miller 9pts, 2aces, 44asst, 1kill, 1block; Chelsey Paxton 5pts, 1asst, 9kills, 12digs; Katie Semon 4digs
Next match: Waterford vs. Eastern (District final) at 4 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 27) at Jackson High School
