BUCKINGHAM – The Buckingham County High School volleyball team suffered a 3-0 loss to James River District foe Bluestone on Monday night as all JRD teams completed their first trips through the round-robin district schedule.

For the Knights, it was an evening of inconsistent play in the 25-21, 25-17, 25-16 loss.

“Bluestone is a good team, and they showed it tonight,” said BCHS head coach Ethan Abruzzo. “They didn't make many errors, and they consistently got their serves in. We made too many of those same mistakes. Too many service errors on balls that weren't even close, and too many balls in the net. We're not playing smart volleyball right now. Our confidence is down, and we need a win.”

The three sets played out pretty much the same way every time. Bluestone would build a lead, Buckingham would rally to pull to within a point or two, only to give it back to the Barons who strung together an even bigger rally.

“We got close in each game,” said Abruzzo, “and then gave it back. I thought Maggie [Vaughan] served very well tonight. She served us back into the game on a couple of occasions tonight. Then after we gave back the serve, we'd allow them to score five points, and that makes it tough to overcome.”

In the second set, Bluestone worked its way out to a 13-7 run, before BCHS rallied to pull to within a point at 13-12. Bluestone scored five points of its own to take an 18-12 lead. The Knights ended the run on a powerful spike by Robyn Davis, and got back to within two points at 19-17 on an ace by Tyshell Chambers, but the Barons scored the final six points of the set to take a 2-0 overall lead.

Bluestone jumped out to a 12-7 lead in the third set. Buckingham closed to within two points at 13-11 on a block by Savannah Gough, only to give up four consecutive points to the Barons. An ace by Ashley Hellerstedt pulled BCHS back to within three points at 17-14, but the Barons were able to hold Buckingham to one point at a time the rest of the way to earn the 3-0 victory.

“We're working for it all to come together,” said Abruzzo. “We haven't done it yet, but we're playing well in spurts. Well enough that you think that time will be soon. Hopefully.

“We need a win, but we also realize that we're going to have to work extra hard to make it happen. The only ones feeling bad for ourselves is us, and we're the ones that will have to find a way to win.”

Buckingham hosted Amelia on Wednesday night, and will host Nottoway on Monday, before traveling to Randolph-Henry next Wednesday.