Lady Flyers Take Nine-Match Winning Streak into a Busy Week
The Sandhills Community College volleyball team heads into a stretch of five matches in a period of 10 days, following Saturday's 25-16, 25-23 and 25-16 home victory over Bryant and Stratton College.
Led by Morrigan Denman with 11 kills on 21 attacks, and Carley Modlin with eight on 12 attempts, the teams' kill percentage of .361 was its best of the season.
The Lady Flyers improved to 6-0 in the Division II Region 10 conference, and 11-1 overall, with their ninth victory in a row. Coach Alicia Riggan's squad has not lost a set since February 8 when it defeated Surry CC 3-2. Bryant and Stratton fell to 1-5 and 3-9.
The coming week's schedule includes a 6 p.m. home match against USC Lancaster on Tuesday followed by road dates with Lenoir CC on Thursday and undefeated and No. 2 ranked Catawba Valley on Saturday.
"Yes, we have a big week and then the same thing the next week," Riggan said. "We just have to stay focused and everybody has to contribute and do their job. When everybody does their job it just flows a lot better."
Denman, Modlin, Khaile Jones, Alexus McCrimmon, Christen Clontz and setter Camryn Lowe all got into the act with kills as the Flyers converted 13 of 20 attempts in the first set.
"I told the girls that in the first set we jumped out and took care of business," Riggan said afterward. "Then in the second set we got into hole after hole. We'd work so hard to catch up and then give them three or four more points."
Trailing 22-20, a win at the net by Modlin was followed by two service aces in a row by Mya Mallard. Moments later, Modlin sent another return by the Bobcats straight down to give her team the 2-0 lead.
The final set included five kills by Denman and her team-high 22nd service ace of the season. Lowe was credited with 26 assists on the day. Mariah Daffron was the leader in digs with nine.
Jones, a 6-foot right-side, contributed to the efficiency of the Flyer attack with four kills in eight attempts. Riggan refers to the Purnell Swett grad and the 6-1 Modlin in the middle as her "twin towers".
"Khaile was our most improved player last year and I think she's doing a good job of owning her spot," the coach said. "She's showing more confidence this year. The first ball that came in tonight she drilled straight down and she had a couple more good ones.
"Last year I think the game was a little faster than what she was used to. We kind of joke about how quiet she is, but she's finally showing some excitement and she gets real pumped up when she gets a kill."
In addition to improving her hitting, Jones continues to be effective swinging the ball across the court to the outside hitters. She was third on the team in assists last season.
"I think with not having much confidence as a freshman, now as a sophomore I know what to expect," she said. "I just have more confidence in myself and the hits."
She also sees it as important that the team doesn't let down during matches as in the second set against the Bobcats.
"We came out really good in the first set and then weren't as focused in the second, but we picked it up in the third," she said. "We can't take anybody lightly. We have to stay focused the whole game."
The Flyers have already played their conference match against USC Lancaster, so Tuesday's meeting will only count in the teams' overall records. Earlier on Tuesday at The Hangar, Modlin will officially sign her letter of intent to play at UNC-Asheville next season.
C. Bergmann