Lawrence Shines as the Lady Flyers Take Two at The Hangar

Led by KeKe Lawrence the Sandhills Community College volleyball team swept both Rockingham CC and Southwest Virginia CC in a tri-match held at the Hangar on Saturday to improve to 6-0 in Region 10 and 14-10 overall.

The sophomore middle blocker was credited with a combined total of 23 kills in the two matches while committing only one attack error. Freshman setter Lannah Huneycutt also had a productive day, recording 17 assists and five service aces in the opener, and 19 assists, 14 digs and three more aces in the second match.

Sophomore libero L'Asia Jackson finished the day with a combined total of 34 digs and seven aces.

In between the Lady Flyers' two matches, Rockingham (3-3, 6-6) swept Southwest Virginia (0-6, 0-13).

"Playing in front of our home crowd the energy was good," Coach Alicia Riggan said afterward. "I felt like things were flowing with good pass, good set, good hit and Keke, shining in the first match.

"Then after sitting and watching, I thought we got sluggish. We weren't moving our feet and we weren't passing as well. It just got real sloppy. We always have to make sure we're focused."

The Lady Flyers entertain a Division II Wake Tech team that is off to a 10-3 start on Faculty and Staff Night on Tuesday at 6 p.m. They were defeated in five sets by the Lady Eagles in Raleigh on September 13.

With Lawrence and freshman outside hitter JaLasia Ray leading the way, the Lady Flyers were sharp from the start, converting 16 of 30 attacks with only five errors in the first set against Rockingham. Setters Huneycutt and Alexis Hinson provided the hitters with plenty of opportunities.

"The last two games were kind of rocky," Lawrence said referring to losses to USC Lancaster and Louisburg earlier in the week. "This was a region game so it was time for me to turn it up. Every ball I get I'm going to put it down."

Consecutive aces by Huneycutt, and two kills apiece by freshman Ny'Asia McKinnon and Lawrence, accounted for the final six Flyers' points in the second set.  Ray, Dajsha Fields, Olivia Barlowe and Madison Brower all connected as the home team scored six of the last seven points to close out the match.

Lawrence and sophomore Mckenzie Swett continued to control the middle, but the Lady Flyers were less efficient in the process of defeating Southwest Virginia in the final match of the day.

A second team All-American selection as a freshman, Lawrence, a 5-foot-11 product of Lumberton High School, was fourth in the nation in block solos.

"KeKe really took over, especially in the first match," Riggan said. "She was a powerhouse. Her vertical is so high she can pretty much put the ball wherever she wants to."

The Flyers' kill percentage of .287 against Rockingham was its second highest of the season. 

Region 10- Standings: Sandhills CC 6-0, Central Carolina CC 4-2, Caldwell Tech 3-3, Rockingham CC 3-3, Patrick Henry 1-3, Southwest Virginia 0-6.

C. Bergmann