High school volleyball: Portageville, Holcomb prepare for playoffs in 4-set match

HOLCOMB — Two talented high school volleyball programs clashed Monday as Holcomb squared off with Portageville.

Both Holcomb and Portageville were district champions during the 2022 season, and both are contenders to do the same this season — with the playoffs beginning for the Bulldogs Thursday and Hornets Friday.

Portageville ultimately downed Holcomb in four, hard-fought sets by scores of 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-13.

Portageville�s Laney Stone (24) works with the ball during a match versus Holcomb dated Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. Stone finished with 10 kills as the Bulldogs downed the Hornets in four sets. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

“Holcomb is a very competitive team,” Portageville head coach Sasha Kellams noted. “I am proud of my girls for responding the way they did, especially after the first set.”

Kellams explained Portageville (26-4-2) played well defensively, which in turn, provided the Bulldogs with opportunities for kills along the front row.

This was an attraction match for Holcomb with two ceremonies, one honoring breast cancer awareness and another for senior Class of 2024.

Zilliah Privett (8) of Holcomb prepares to kill the ball during a regular-season match dated Monday, Oct. 16. The Hornets pushed Portageville to a fourth set before ultimately losing. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

The senior Hornets this year are Maleigh Lemings, Jasmine White, Lilyan Cantrell and Kaetlyn Danley — who played for the first time in seven weeks after suffering an unspecified injury in August.

The athletic Danley will give Holcomb needed depth as it attempts to go on a deep playoff run.

Portageville had three players with double-digit kills, led by Gloriaha Farmer’s 18. Jayla Weddington added 14 and Laney Stone 10. The Bulldogs recorded a team .189 attack percentage, a metric used to determine effectiveness in the sport.

Holcomb's Maleigh Lemings smiles and waves to the crowd during a "Dig Pink" ceremony before a match versus Portageville dated Monday, Oct. 16. Lemings was one of four seniors honored, along with Hornets' Lilyan Cantrell, Kaetlyn Danley and Jasmine White. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

Bryleigh Adams gained the most points off her serve (13), but aces were tough to come by because Holcomb was strong in serve receive.

In other statistical categories, Weddington had four total ace blocks (including three solos), Ja’Niya Smith scooped up a team-best 27 digs. Mia Scherer and Aaliyah Larry provided 29 and 17 assists, respectively, in Portageville’s 5-2 offense.

Holcomb won the first set on a Portageville service error. The Bulldogs claimed the second set on a Holcomb attack error.

Stone blocked Holcomb player Landynn Hodges’ tip at the net, giving the Bulldogs their 25th point of the third set.

Portageville pulled away from Holcomb midway through the fourth set, with Liza Priggel, Farmer and Weddington providing key tips and kills down the stretch for the victory.

Portageville closed out the regular season with a sweep over Risco Tuesday, while Holcomb downed Malden in three sets the same night.

Holcomb statistics from the match versus Portageville weren’t provided in time for this edition of the Delta Dunklin Democrat.