Flyers Take Three-Set Road Win Over Cougars

The 7th-ranked Sandhills Community College Flyers (20-4, 2-0 Region 10) traveled to Sanford, N.C., on Tuesday night to face the Central Carolina Community College Cougars (2-9, 1-3 Region 10) in a Region 10 matchup. The Flyers secured a 3-0 sweep (25-21, 25-21, 25-12) in the hard-fought contest.

In the first set, both teams went back and forth, trading points, with the Flyers gaining a slight edge. Although the Cougars mounted a late comeback, Sandhills held on to take the set, 25-21, and a 1-0 lead.

The second set saw Central Carolina jump out to a 14-11 lead. However, the Flyers rallied, taking control with a series of kills to gain the upper hand. The Cougars cut the lead to 23-21, but Sandhills finished strong to claim the set, 25-21, and a 2-0 advantage.

Carrying momentum into the third set, Sandhills jumped ahead early and never looked back. Despite Central Carolina's efforts to close the gap, the Flyers surged offensively, securing a dominant 25-12 victory to seal the match.

Kristin Dodds led the Flyers' offense with 13 kills, while Katelyn Bunting and Caroline Bradford added seven kills each. Cassidy Jewett contributed four kills. Mariana Clayton directed the offense with 21 assists, and Sydney Garner added 13 assists.

Defensively, Lainey Mullins anchored the back row with 31 digs, followed by Bradford with 21 and Nikki Lambert with 16. Bunting was a force at the net with three blocks, while Dodds and Reagan Smith each added a block.

The Flyers will begin a four-game homestand on Thursday when they host Patrick & Henry Community College in another Region 10 matchup. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Z. Ciboth