LANDRUM– High school sports rivalry doesn’t always need an outdoor setting. A good case in point was the volleyball match at Landrum High School on Wednesday, Sept. 28, when the Polk County Wolverines came to town to battle the Cardinals.

After dropping the first two games of the best-of-five set, the Cardinals came fully alive and overpowered the Wolverines, 25-23, but Polk rebounded to take the fourth game, 25-14, and the match, 3-1.

Offensive stars for the winners were Addie Lynch (nine kills, 19 digs), Reagan Waddell (17 kills, 18 digs) and freshmen Grace Lauer and Mireya Roman (five kills apiece).

“It’s a big rivalry, a school rivalry,” noted Polk coach Molly Hill. For some reason, a few previous Polk coaches did not schedule matches with Landrum, but Hill, with an eye for the great rivalry between the two schools, did.

It was a good win for sure,” she remarked.

Polk won the first and second games, 25-14, each, before Landrum stormed back in the third.

Holding the Wolverines to narrow leads, the Cardinals tied that game at 13, then went ahead, 14-13, inched ahead, 20-17. Polk tied the score at 22, and leapfrogged ahead, 23-22, before the Cardinals scored three straight to send the match to the fourth game.

There, the Wolverines re-established their command, and won, 25-14.

Polk is now 11-4 overall, and 6-1 in the Western Highlands Conference (this was not a conference match). Landrum is now 11-10 overall and 4-2 in conference play.

Landrum’s home match last (Thursday) evening was played after press time, as was Polk’s match at home last night against Mitchell.

Landrum next hosts St. Joseph’s Catholic on Oct. 4. Also on Oct. 4, Polk visits Avery County.

All four of those matches are between conference rivals.

In the Crdinals’ 3-0 win over Christ Church Episcopal on Sept. 20, Junior Nicole Ford recorded 15 kills, two aces, eight digs and three blocks. Ellie Ford recorded seven kills, five aces and eight digs.

“We are still improving every day as a team,” said Cardinal head coach Anna Goff. “We had a tough schedule before region games started, playing 5A teams only. It pushed us, but what is unique about my girls is that they thrive off competition, and do not care who is across the net. My team is going to battle!”

Before meeting the Wolverines, the Cardinals scored 3-0 wins over Greer Middle College and Blacksburg.