Lady Flyers Get Back in Win Column vs Lenoir

The Sandhills Community College volleyball team got back into the win column on Thursday evening with a 30-28, 25-13, 15-25 and 25-21 road win at Lenoir Community College, bringing the team's record to 7-5.

The victory was the second this season for the No. 7 ranked in NJCAA Division III Flyers over the Division II Lancers who dropped to 4-3.

After a back and forth first set, the Flyers overcame four set points to take the 1-0 lead. The final two points came on a kill by Ny'Asia McKinnon and a service ace by Nicole Lambert. Coach Alicia Riggan's squad won a lopsided second set before the Lancers rallied in the third to extend the match to a fourth set.

Libero Lainey Mullins, the August 23-29 Division III National Defensive Player of the Week, was at the service line for first 13 points of the decisive fourth set. Outside hitter Dajsha Fields was credited with five kills and middle hitter Cassie Jewett recorded two during that stretch.

Fields led the winners with 12 kills in the match followed by outside hitter Caroline Bradford with nine. Setter Sydney Garner accounted for 30 of the team's 35 assists and added six kills on just 10 attacks. In a match featuring long rallies, five Flyers were in double figures in digs led by Mullins with 16, Alyssa Maragelis and Garner with 12 apiece and Emma Brown with nine. Fields and McKinnon were the team's leading blockers with two each.

The Lady Flyers finish off a two-week road stretch on Saturday, with a double header at Patrick Henry Community College. They take on the Patriots at 11 a.m. followed by a matchup with the Louisburg College Hurricanes at 1 p.m.

The Flyers return to the Hangar next Tuesday evening, taking on Davidson-Davie Community College at 6 p.m.

T. Ratcliff