Flyers Win Four-Set Thriller Over Lancers

The 7th ranked  Sandhills Community College volleyball team picked up a 3-1 win over USC Lancaster before the largest crowd of the season on Saturday afternoon at The Hanger. 

After dropping the first set, the Lady Flyers rallied to take the match 19-25, 25-21, 25-20 and 25-23.  They improved to 22-4 with their 13th victory in a row.  Coach Alicia Riggan's squad faces a major Region 10 test at home on Wednesday at 6 p.m. when it welcomes No. 9 ranked Caldwell Tech into The Hanger for a top 10 matchup.  The Cobras bring in an overall record of 13-2.  Both teams are undefeated in conference play. The first serve is set for 6 p.m. 

The match was originally scheduled for Saturday, but was moved due to the impact of Hurricane Helene across the state of North Carolina.  

The Flyers found themselves in a battle early on Saturday, but the Division I Lancers came out swinging and took the first set with a late rally. The Flyers flipped the game in their favor to start off the second set before holding off a comeback by the Lancers and tied it up at 1-1.

The Flyers went on to take the next two sets, but not without challenges from the visitors.

"The Lancers definitely came out strong in the first set and gave us a challenge," said sophomore middle blocker Cassidy Jewett, "but we came together as a team and decided the first set was the only thing they were going to take from us today. With the Hangar packed and the crowd behind us, we came out of sets two, three, and four on top." 

The win gives the Flyers a season sweep over the Lancers. They now have five season sweeps over higher NJCAA Divisions opponents this season.

Kristin Dodds led the way for the Flyers with 11 kills followed by Caroline Bradford with 10 and Katelyn Bunting with five. Mariana Clayton led the assist category with 24 followed by Sydney Garner with 14 and Lainey Mullins with three.

The leaders in digs were Mullins with 23, Clayton with 18 and Nikki Lambert and Bradford with 13 each. Dodds recorded three blocks followed by Bunting and Cassidy Jewett with two apiece.

Jenna Luquer finished with three kills and 11 digs, Jewett added eight kills and two digs. Regan Smith had four kills, three digs and one block. Jacque Holden contributed on defense with four digs.

Z Ciboth