Team chemistry served as the difference for South Kitsap (6-4, 3-2 in South Puget Sound League) volleyball in their home win over Rogers (3-4, 2-3 SPSL) Oct. 6, beating the Rams three sets to none.

SK has now won three matches in a row.

“We’re just getting better every week,” SK coach CJ Scott said. “Technically, we’re like halfway through the season, but I really like what we can be and what we can do as we move forward.”

SK got out to a hot start, establishing a strong presence on the net and blocking many of Rogers’ shots early on in the first set, developing an early lead in the process.

The Wolves didn’t relinquish that lead for the rest of the set, with Rogers getting as close as 17-16 later on in the first set, but outside hitter Kohana Castro had multiple successful hits, keeping the Wolves in front and winning the first set 25-20.

The Wolves eventually leaped out to a 15-5 lead in the second set and maintained a double-digit lead over the Rams for a majority of the set, eventually winning 25-15.

“Our team chemistry is really good,” Castro said. “I think having a good team on the court is good, but we are also really close outside of volleyball.”

Rogers kept it close with SK in the third set, keeping the set tied until the Wolves eventually broke out a multiple-point lead behind many Ram errors, giving SK an early 8-5 lead.

The Wolves continued to build on their lead at 17-7 after a Rogers timeout. Middle blocker Lizzy Pugh landed an emphatic spike to give the Wolves a 22-10 lead in the third set, ultimately sealing the victory.

“I’ve been trying to get (Pugh) to be more aggressive,” Scott said. “She tends to kind of back off a little bit. She stayed with it tonight.”

Payton Elmore of SK serves the ball in a home win over the Rogers (Puyallup) Rams Oct. 6.