Lady Flyers Sweep Hurricanes for Eighth Win in a Row
Playing at home for only the second time this season, the Sandhills Community College volleyball team extended its winning streak to eight matches in a row on Tuesday by defeating Louisburg College 25-18, 25-12 and 25-13.
The Lady Flyers never allowed the Hurricanes to gain any momentum, limiting them to no more than two points in a row throughout the three sets.
Middle blocker Carley Modlin led the winners with 12 kills, on just 16 attempts, and four solo blocks. Outside hitter Morrigan Denman's contributions included 11 kills and seven digs. Setter Camryn Lowe was credited with 24 assists and five kills.
Coach Alicia Riggan's squad takes a record of 10-1 overall, and a 5-0 in Region 10, into Saturday's 2 p.m. conference match at The Hangar against Bryant and Stratton of Virginia Beach (2-8, 0-4).
"I was excited to be playing on our home court and not be traveling, and our players showed their energy the whole time," Riggan said. "The girls jumped out in front in all three sets and never gave more than a couple of points at a time. And it was contributed to by everybody. Everybody was doing their job."
The Hurricanes (1-4, 0-4) were able to find some open areas with tips to make the first set the most competitive of the three. They scored the first points of the second and third sets for their only leads of the evening.
Modlin, Denman and Christen Clontz combined for 11 kills in the one-sided final set.
"When we huddled up before the game," Denman said, "I told them let's play hard every point so we don't get ourselves in a hole like we do sometimes. Play every point hard and finish strong so we can get out of here and go and get something to eat."
The improvement shown by Denman and the other six second-year players has contributed to the team's successful move from Division III to Division II this season. For the first time this week, the Flyers were listed in the NJCAA Division II top 20 poll as one of three additional teams receiving votes.
Sandhills and No. 2 ranked Catawba Valley CC are the only two of 11 teams in Region 10 currently without a conference loss.
"Moving up to Division II I feel we've caught everybody by surprise," Riggan says. "Yes, we are Division III, but we're showing we're ready to fight every single game."
Denman is second on the team in kills and digs, and leads in service aces. The product of Seventy-First High School attributes part of her improvement to the weight-training program instituted by Associate Athletic Director Ryan Riggan this season.
"We all come to practice everyday and do the movements," she said, "but what really makes you better is what you do outside practice, working on your strength and doing stuff you're not really good at, so you can improve. I love to workout so I've always been in shape. This year we've been using the heavier weights to try to gain bulk and get more power."
Riggan has seen the results in the power behind her attacks and serves, and the quickness with which she gets to a ball.
"Mo is seeing the ball well, she's got great hang time and she's really getting on top of the ball," the coach said. "She gets back there and her serve is like skimming the net. She's always been an all-around player, but she's really thriving right now. It's really exciting to see."
Modlin is ranked fifth in Division II in total blocks and seventh in kill percentage (.438). The Lady Flyers are half way through their 10 match Region 10 schedule. In cases where they are playing a team more than once, only one match will count in the standings. The Flyers defeated Bryant and Stratton 3-0 at the SMC Invitational in Spartanburg, SC last month, but Saturday's match is the one that counts.
Following the match, Athletic Trainer Stefanie Mansfield Turner gave the players and coaches the happy news that she and her husband Andrew are expecting a child.
C. Bergmann
