Middleton, Fla. — With a formidable front line, The Villages High School volleyball team cruised to victory Thursday night.

The Buffalo posed a staunch defensive effort in a 3-0 sweep over First Academy (Leesburg), riding a slew of blocks and shot alterations up front in a 25-13, 25-21, 25-11 decision inside the VHS gymnasium.

A mix-and-match combination of Bailey Wright, Trinity Mitchell, Moira Mangum and Alexia Laws among others denied the visiting Eagles at the net, as The Villages improved to 6-4 this season with the win.

"We've put a lot of work into it," said VHS head coach Michele Moreman. "(There's) a focus on blocking and how much space you can take up with a block, and then how your defense can play around you. It all starts up front with blocks for us."

The Buffalo used a slight height advantage over First Academy (5-8 overall) early and often in the first set, frustrating the Eagles with a variety of blocking schemes. The tactics forced the visitors into several mishits, as they tallied nine unforced errors in a lopsided first set defeat.

It was much of the same in the second frame, despite First Academy cracking down on the number of correctable mistakes, as the Buffalo still got to the net for a pair of blocks during a key 4-0 run late.

VHS surrendered the opening point of the third set and then never looked back, rattling off the next dozen tallies to seize a 12-1 lead. First Academy failed to close within single digits down the stretch, as Laws put the finishing touches on the sweep with a decisive block.

"We're blessed to have some athletic girls," Moreman said. "None of them are 'huge,' no one is really over 5-foot-10, but they can really jump. We're trying to make that a huge asset and use that to our advantage all the time."

After being named head coach of the Buffalo on Sept. 13, Moreman dropped her first home contest one day later against unbeaten East Ridge (Clermont). Earlier this week, the three-time state champion coach picked up her first victory at VHS — a sweep on the road Tuesday at South Sumter — before enjoying her first home win Thursday night against First Academy.

"This is such a special place," Moreman said. "Standing in there and looking around at this beautiful new facility, all the excitement that comes with it, and just dreaming about what this place is going to be like when we fill up these stands."


Cody Hills can be reached for questions or comment at cody.hills@tvcs.org or by calling (352) 259-6890.