Tragedy impacts New Kent performance against Warhill

By Alan Chamberlain | November 7, 2013 12:05 pm

Lady Trojan Skylar Cossaboon makes a diving dig attempt on a Warhill serve as teammate Rachel Byers observes.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Jacob Vick’s untimely death sent shockwaves through the New Kent school community. And that impact lingered two days after the tragic event when New Kent’s Lady Trojans entertained Warhill’s Lions in last Thursday’s regular season volleyball finale.

After a moment of silence in honor of their fallen schoolmate, the match proceeded, but the hosts got off to a sluggish start. In the end, the Lions walked away with a straight set (25-14, 25-19, 25-23) win.

Afterward, New Kent coach Cyndi Burnett said the sophomore football player’s death “had a lot to do with” her team’s performance.

“Our girls were very distracted,” she said. “We have two 10th graders on the team who were very close to him. The rest of the team knew him since this is a small school and a small community.

“We tried our best and played hard, but [Warhill’s] defense and offense were just a little bit better,” she added.

Warhill jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first set. New Kent closed within one at 6-5, but the Lions pulled away on a 9-1 run and dominated the rest of the way. The hosts’ play, however, steadily improved over the next two sets.

In set two, the Lady Trojans equaled Warhill’s first set opening surge. Olivia Foster’s service ace put the hosts in front 5-1, but the Lions gradually worked their way back, catching the hosts at 8-8 before building a four-point lead. New Kent pulled back within two at 21-19 but did not score again.

New Kent dominated early in set three. Back-to-back Sydney Griffith kills extended a Lady Trojan lead to 10-4. Again, the Lions rallied overtaking their hosts at 16-16. From there, the teams traded leads until a Lion ace broke a final 23-23 deadlock.

Griffith registered nine of New Kent’s 20 kills for the match. Gina Sledd managed 18 assists along with a team-high 13 digs on defense. New Kent finished the regular season at 15-8.