Lady Trojans overcome sluggish start but fall to Grafton

Lady Trojan Emiley Angle digs a Grafton serve as teammate Madison Beasley observes.

Alan Chamberlain photo

After less than inspired performances in the opening set and for most of the second against Grafton’s visiting Clippers, New Kent’s Lady Trojans raised their level of play, almost capturing set three. But the comeback fell short of extending Thursday’s best-of-five volleyball encounter.

The Clippers held off the Lady Trojans on the way to gaining a straight set 25-15, 25-20, 26-24 triumph, dropping the hosts to 11-6 on the season.

“We just dug ourselves a huge hole at the beginning,” said Lady Trojan head coach Cyndi Burnett. “There was no energy, no enthusiasm, and no get-up-and-go.”

Injuries played a role with starters Zoe Smith (concussion) and Alyssa Krause (ankle ligament) forced to sit out the contest.

“Having two starters out didn’t help any, but that’s no excuse for the way we played in the beginning,” Burnett said.

The Lady Trojans fell behind 15-4 in the first set and never got closer than eight (18-10) the rest of the way. Set two exhibited more of the same with Grafton vaulting to a 16-5 advantage, but the hosts battled back closing the gap to 24-20 before falling.

New Kent matched Grafton almost point-for-point in the third set, which featured nine ties and eight lead changes. Paige Simpson’s kill off an Emiley Angle assist placed the hosts a point away (24-23) from extending the match, but Sam Heard’s kill forged the final deadlock at 24-all. A New Kent error coupled with another Heard shot handed Grafton the win.

Simpson led the Lady Trojans with six kills, 13 assists, and 20 digs while Madison Beasley contributed seven kills.