Williamstown's Siena Strcula tips the ball across the net during the Yellowjackets' sweep of Ritchie County on Tuesday night. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

WILLIAMSTOWN – Little Kanawha Conference rivals Ritchie County and Williamstown went at it for the second time this season here Tuesday night, but the Rebels were handed another sweep after the Yellowjackets posted a 25-8, 25-18 and 25-14 victory.

WHS head coach Rachelle Cole’s squad received double figure dig efforts by Olivia Buttrey (12) and libero Keatyn Haynes (10) while Chloe Mulligan and Addi Kerby tied for match-high kill honors with seven apiece.

The Yellowjackets, who improved to 9-8-2 and will have a week off before heading next Tuesday to St. Marys, also got match-highs of three aces from Riley Haines and 21 assists by Jordyn Gaines while Siena Strcula chipped in two blocks and joined Buttrey with a half dozen kills.

“We have some young ones,” coach Cole said of her squad, which like the now 1-11-1 Rebels are going through a bit of a youth movement. “It’s definitely a work in progress. We haven’t nailed down a solid rotation yet.

“We’re playing with a large handful of freshmen and sophomores. I think we started the season starting five girls who had never seen any varsity time, maybe six. The senior leadership has been pretty solid through this transition so I can’t ask for more from them.”

Williamstown setter Jordyn Gains, who had a match-high 21 assists, serves for one of her two aces during the Yellowjackets' sweep of Ritchie County on Tuesday night. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Ritchie County grabbed a quick 2-1 lead in the opening set thanks to an Emily Bush ace and one of her team-high six kills. However, Gains toed the service line and the ‘Jackets took the lead for good on Mulligan’s first kill.

Gains proceeded to serve the hosts to a 13-3 cushion as it was 12-2 following a Reagan Corbett kill and back-to-back aces from Gains.

Ritchie County couldn’t get anything going as Haynes finished off set point with an ace.

The Yellowjackets jumped out to a quick 5-0 edge in set two and the advantage ballooned to 12-3 following consecutive aces by Haines. Buttrey’s ace pushed the lead to 15-6 and it was still 17-8 after the Rebels got another Bush kill along with an ace from Emma Waugaman.

Five Williamstown attack errors helped the Rebels stay in it as it was just a four-point difference at 20-16 after Abbigayl Cox assisted on a Chelsie Jeffrey downed spike, but Strcula’s kill got it to set point and that was finished off with Grace Boone at the service line.

Ritchie County setter Raelyn Snider prepares to bump the ball during the Rebels' 3-0 setback on Tuesday night at Williamstown. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Waugaman, with the help of two Bush kills, served the Rebels ahead 5-2 in the must-win third set, but back-to-back kills from Kerby thanks to assists from Gains and Boone put the hosts in front to stay at 10-8.

Cox’s kill with Ava Satterfield serving made it 20-13, but Boone’s ace got the ‘Jackets to match point which was earned on a Rebel attack error.

“We’re still struggling and waiting to get one of our injured players back, and that’s going to change some of the dynamic. I just keep saying it’s still early. We’ll figure it out,” coach Cole added of trying to figure out the puzzle pieces. “I think the seniors (Haynes, Kerby, Corbett and Boone) have really stepped up as good in the leadership role, and they kind of have to. They have no other choice, but we’ve seen it.

“We played a tough three games on the road last week and we had our moments where we really struggled. Just uncomfortable and there were moments that were bad, but I really saw some of them take control and take leadership roles, and I praised them for that. That was really nice to see and I think they’ve worked harder at practice since then. I think they are trying to get everyone to mesh together. Like I said, we’re not even done changing things yet.”

Ritchie County will try to get back in the win column when the Rebels welcome in Tyler Consolidated next Tuesday.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com