Lady Flyers Sharp in Pink Out Win over Cougars
The Sandhills Community College volleyball team took care of business on Pink Out Night, defeating Central Carolina CC 25-18, 25-15 and 25-18 in a Region 10 match on Thursday at The Hangar.
After falling behind 4-1 in the opening set, the Lady Flyers caught up and led by comfortable margins most of the rest of the way. They improved to 7-0 in Region 10 and 15-11 overall. They lead both of their closest pursuers, Central Carolina and Rockingham CC by three games in the standings with three to play.
Coach Alicia Riggan's squad travels to Wentworth on Saturday where it will meet host Rockingham at 11 a.m. and Patrick Henry CC at 1 p.m. in a conference tri-match.
The largest home crowd of the season attended what has been a special night for Sandhills volleyball for many years. More than 200 pink out t-shirts were sold. Plans are for the proceeds to be donated to a local family in need.
"The night means a lot to a lot of people," Riggan said moments after a group photo was taken of the participants in the match, family members, Flyer volleyball alums and other fans. "We all know somebody we loved or somebody we know that lost their battle to some form of cancer."
Against a Cougar squad the Lady Flyers were forced to come from behind to defeat in Sanford last month, KeKe Lawrence, JaLasia Ray, Madison Brower and Dajsha Fields all recorded multiple kills in a statement-making first set.
Leading 2-1 in the second, three tough services in a row by Lannah Huneycutt, including two aces, helped build a lead that grew to 11. Another ace by Huneycutt gave the home team a 2-1 advantage in the third set that it never relinquished.
The final point of the match came on a clever ball dumped into an open space on the other side by setter Alexis Hinson.
"We started out kind of slow for the first few points, but then the girls got right in the groove," Riggan said. "We just played volleyball the way we're capable of playing tonight.
"I'm glad our girls stepped up and really gave our spectators something to watch. We got a chance to play everybody tonight. I couldn't be more proud of them."
Ray, a Hoke County High School grad, led the winners in kills with 10 followed by Lawrence with seven and Brower with six. Huneycutt was the leader in assists with 20 and service aces with four. The leaders in digs were L'Asia Jackson with 14 and Abby Quick with 10.
According to Jackson, members of the team watched film of the close match against the Cougars in Sanford, focusing on their tendencies, in preparation for the second meeting between the teams.
"I feel like we've been working really hard in practice," she said. "The hitters have been coming in early to work with the setters and the rest of us have been working with them as well. We're basically working as hard as we can so we can get the job done."
A number of former Lady Flyers were in attendance, including Alisha Ritter Brown, Tiffany Hicks Privott, Jordan Ward, Rachael Mashburn and Alexus McCrimmon.
C. Bergmann
