Lady Flyers Celebrate Season of Region 10 Dominance, and District and National Tournament Successes

At the end of a 2021 volleyball season that began with preseason workouts in the summer and ended with a national beach tournament in Florida the following May, Sandhills Community College Coach Alicia Riggan was feeling like she needed a little break.

"They didn't want a break," she recalled of the response to that notion by the five players who would be returning for their sophomore seasons. "They were like, 'we have big goals, we're ring-chasing and we want to be in the weight room and on the court'.  So we didn't take a break and when the freshmen came in I think it laid a foundation."

The Lady Flyers went on to compete in a program record 38 matches. They captured Region 10 regular season and tournament titles, winning all 12 matches in the process. They defeated No. 1 ranked Butler County CC in the Mid-Atlantic District Tournament to qualify for the national tournament for the first time since 2010.

Ranked No. 11 in NJCAA Division III, the Flyers lost their tournament opener in Rochester, MN. They went on to win both of their consolation bracket matches, finishing in ninth place. Facing upper division and four-year college teams in more than half of their matches, they compiled an overall record of 23-15.

Members of the team, coaches and supporters of the volleyball program recently celebrated the accomplishments at a banquet held at the Dempsey Student Center.

The first speaker was Chad Hill, the Athletic Director at Union Pines High School and a brother of Coach Riggan. He talked about how the combined efforts of player and coaches, supported by family members, faculty and others translated into the team's success on the court. He expressed the hope that all of the work that led to the success will be etched in the memories of the players.

Assistant Athletic Director Ryan Riggan, who led the team's conditioning and weight training program, complimented the players for their hard work, about the way they encouraged each other and how he saw it impact their confidence individually and as a team.

Individual Honors Announced

Sophomores Keke Lawrence (NJCAA first team) and L'Asia Jackson (VolleyballMag.com) were named Division III All-Americans. Lawrence was a second team selection as a freshman. Both earned NJCAA Player of the Week honors in October. Lawrence (Elizabeth City State) and Jackson (Shaw) will continue their playing careers at NCAA Division II colleges next season.

Lawrence, a middle hitter, was named the Region 10 Player of the Year for the second time. Jackson, a libero, and freshman setter Lannah Huneycutt were first team all-region selections. Sophomores MacKenzie Swett, a middle hitter, and Abby Quick, a defensive specialist were named to the second team. Huneycutt was also an NJCAA Player of the Week honoree in October.

Riggan, with a record of 275-124 in 14 years at Sandhills, earned Region 10 Coach of the Year honors.

Team awards announced were: Most Improved – freshman Anna Ty Ivey; MVP Defense – Jackson; MVP Offense – Lawrence; Impact Player – Huneycutt; Flyers Award (leader on and off the court)- Swett.

According to Riggan, the sophomores, including JaLasia Ray, who sat out her freshman indoor season because of a knee injury, set a good example for the freshmen. Ray started most of the matches as an outside hitter, finishing fourth on the team in kills.

The other freshmen members were outside hitters Olivia Barlowe, Madison Brower and Dajsha Fields, setter Alexis Hinson, defensive specialist Alyssa Maragelis and middle hitter Ny'Asia McKinnon.

Coaches assisting Riggan included Holly Mandeville, Kristin Hylton, Lindsay McManamon and Jacob Marley.

Recalling the Season's Most Memorable Match

In addition to the Region 10, district and national tournament successes, and the victory over No. 1 ranked Butler, the Lady Flyers were involved in an extraordinary two hour and 39 minute match that was the longest in the program's history.

Seeking to complete a 10-0 regular season in Region 10 on October 15 at The Hangar, the Lady Flyers won the second set 30-28, but trailed Caldwell Tech 2-1, going to the fourth. Seven times in the fourth set, on Sophomore Day, they overcame match points, escaping with a 37-35 win before taking the tiebreaker 18-16.

"I've never been a part of anything like that, not even close," Riggan said, thinking to back her high school and college playing days. "That was unbelievable. Somehow they figured out a way to finish it.

"That's the grit I talk about. That determination, that fire, is the thing you always have to have."

A Player's Recollections About What it Means to Be a Lady Flyer

"I was writing a letter to the coaches today and one of the things that really stuck with me from my freshman year was something Coach Ryan (Riggan) said to us in weight training one day," Swett said, following the banquet. "He said that every day counts, on that day, and on our last day at nationals I thought about that.

"Every day that we worked so hard from my freshman year until now has not only made me the player I am, but it has helped me be the person I am. And that's going to help when I have a job, when I get married and when I have kids one day.

"That's that what this program is about. It's not about volleyball all of the time. The coaches do care about us as a person too. Right down to our teachers, everyone at Sandhills plays a part in us doing well."

Thanks to the Many Providing Support Behind the Scenes

The attendees included President Dr. John Dempsey and his wife Evelyn, Chief Operating Officer, Ron Layne, Athletic Director Mike Apple and Marsha Apke, the team's academic advisor. Photos taken by Donna Ford were projected on a screen throughout the evening.

Riggan thanked the many supporters of the program, including Sandhills faculty and staff, student interns, parents, grandparents, family and friends.

Continuing the program's commitment to community service, the Lady Flyers logged a total of 561 hours led by Lawrence with 47.

Statistical leaders: Kills - Lawrence 336, Fields 227, Swett 172, Ray 165; Digs - Jackson 655, Huneycutt 352, Quick 312, Maragelis 237; Block total - Lawrence 103, Swett 73; Serve receptions - Jackson 770, Quick 638, Maragelis 484; Service aces - Huneycutt 70, Jackson 67, Quick 37, Maragelis 34.

C. Bergmann