MERCERSBURG — The rivalry in girls volleyball between Greencastle-Antrim and James Buchanan has been a little lopsided in the Blue Devils’ favor at times.

Addie Kagarise

But not in the past three years, and not in 2021.

On Thursday night at JB, the Rockets scored a 3-0 win over Greencastle — their third 3-0 win over the Blue Devils this year. And this match was a District 3 Class 3A first-round contest.

“Kudos to our girls tonight — it’s hard to beat a team three times in one season,” Buchanan coach Erica Piper said. “The crowd was amazing — it was great to see such a great turnout for a volleyball match.”

The Rockets (14-3), the No. 4 seed, will host No. 5 Twin Valley (16-4) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a quarterfinal match. Greencastle finishes with an 11-8 record.

James Buchanan won the first game, 25-17, but then Greencastle raced to an 11-3 lead in the second set.

“We were able to come back from that 11-3 deficit and that was huge to get us over the hump,” Piper said.

The Rockets rallied to win that one 25-20, and then closed it out with a 25-16 victory.

For JB, Mackenzie Stoner, Campbelle Dayley and Rylynn Welsh had big nights. Stoner led in service points (14) and blocks (6), and added 6 digs and 6 kills. Dayley racked up 9 kills, 10 digs, 2 blocks and 10 points, while Welsh had 5 kills, led with 11 digs and had 12 points.

Kayleigh Hartman knocked down 7 kills, Carly Sollenberger had 24 assists and 8 points, Brinn Seville dug up 9 balls, Ashley Alfree had 4 blocks and Macey Mummert had 8 points.

Piper said, “I thought we really kept them off balance with our offense at the net, and — other than early in the second set — I thought our passing allowed us to run our offense.”

For the Blue Devils, Kiley Burkholder had 9 kills and only 1 error (she hit .400), and added 9 digs.

Also for Greencastle, Alayna Welsh had 21 digs, Kalea Fugate produced 5 aces and 8 digs, Addie Kagarise had 7 kills and 4 digs and Madeline Eagler racked up 21 assists and 8 digs.