Flyers Reach 20-Win Plateau for the Fifth Time in the Last Six Years in Season Finale at the Hangar
Tuesday's volleyball match against a Johnson and Wales team that beat them twice in five-sets a year ago was the finale at the Hangar for seven Sandhills Community College sophomores.
Freshman Lilli Inman helped the Lady Flyers get off to a fast start by racking up five of her team-high 11 kills in the first set. That set the tone for a 25-14, 26-24 and 25-20 sweep and the team's 15th win in a row.
Sophomore Abby Wallace also had a big night that included 36 assists and 16 digs. Freshman libero Shaedyn Housh was credited with 18 digs.
Coach Alicia Riggan's squad takes a record of 20-3 into tonight's 6 p.m. match at Davidson County CC. Johnson and Wales, a four-year college from Charlotte, dropped to 12-12
"It had to be bittersweet for the sophomores," Riggan said afterward, "but what a way to go out with a 3-0 sweep of a team that beat us twice last year. I think they had a little revenge in mind. The fans were great and I thought every one of the girls contributed. I thought we controlled the energy and you feed off of that."
The first set was tied at 5-5 when Inman went to work from the outside.
"Abby just kept putting it directly in my hand," she said. "The energy was so good. It was a great feeling."
The Wildcats came from behind to tie the second set at 24-24, but kills by sophomores Kaitlyn Lisenby and Tee'Ashia Lilly made it 2-0. Attacks by Lilly and Rachael Mashburn helped build a lead in the third before Inman's final two kills ended the match.
Looking on as defensive specialist Kiana Brown played her final game at the Hangar were her parents Dwight and Jennifer Brown and a sister Chloe who is a junior member of the North Moore High School team. Another sister Cheyenne was setter for the Flyers for a two-year period ending in 2016 and a student assistant coach a year ago.
"It was pretty sad," Kiana said of the Hangar phase of her career coming to a close," but it's been a great experience and I would go back and do it again. It's been awesome following in my sister's footsteps and playing here. It's given our family a chance to spend more time together and brought us even closer."
Wallace, who set the Flyer record for career assists last week, is still pursuing Cheyenne Brown's single season record of 852.
"Kiana is an extremely hard worker and she always gives 110 per cent," Riggan says. "Cheyenne was the same way. It's great to have kids like that."
The sophomore contingent, that also includes Chelsea Green and Jordan Ward, heads into the final two regular season dates at Davidson, and a make-up game at Johnson and Wales on October 29, with a two year record of 24-3 at the Hangar and 47-9 overall. The sweep was the team's 16th of the season.
C.Bergmann