Lady Trojans’ improvement results in four-set win over Poquoson

New Kent’s Kendall White (13) uses her athleticism to tip the hands over the outstretched hands of Poquoson’s Kate Zohn.

Robb Johnson photo

In the first encounter with the Poquoson Lady Islanders, New Kent’s Lady Trojans loss in four sets. An Oct. 19 rematch saw those results flipped by an improved performance by the Lady Trojans.

New Kent defeated Poquoson 26-24, 25-27, 25-14, 25-14 to push their record back over .500.

In the opening set, both teams battled to a 23 apiece tie. Poquoson’s Emma Rodgers tip over the net provided the guests a one-point advantage before New Kent’s Fallon Greenawalt countered with a kill to tie the score at 24 all. From there, Taylor Eubanks served the final two points as Poquoson was forced into errors as the hosts captured the first set.

In the second set, the Lady Trojans used an 8-0 run to take an 11-6 lead. But the Lady Islanders retaliated, putting together a 12-4 run to take an 18-15 lead. New Kent rebounded and had set point 24-22. But the visitors didn’t falter, as Rodgers and A.J. Smith blocked Greenawalt’s attempt at the net to highlight a run that provided the hosts a one-point lead (25-24). And while both teams alternated, it would be Kaylee Vexler’s spike and score that proved to be the game-winner for the Lady Islanders and tie the contest at one game apiece.

But from that point going forward, New Kent began flexing their dominance. Leading 10-8, New Kent’s Kendall White kill sparked a 15-6 run for the hosts, as Mackenzie Loveland’s back-to-back aces closed out the frame and provided the Lady Trojans a 2-1 lead.

In the fourth set, the momentum continued to favor the hosts. The Lady Trojans opened the set on a 6-0 run. Abby McLaughlin’s ace sealed the contest for the hosts to split the season series.

After the contest, New Kent Lady Trojans Head Coach Stuart Burnett spoke about the positive momentum that his team is picking up as they head to the postseason.

“It’s not about how we played in September, but how we are playing at the end of October,” he said. “The girls have picked up their confidence level and they aren’t getting frantic when dealing with deficits.

“We have a good feeling about what our players can do in certain games, and they are handling those situations,” Burnett concluded.

New Kent improved to 11-10 on the season.