New Kent ousted in volleyball tournament opener

Lady Trojan Paige Simpson dives on the floor to keep the ball alive, but teammates Zoe Smith (3) and Cortney Pickett (5) are unable to reach the pass.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Less than two weeks ago, New Kent’s host Lady Trojans surprised Warhill’s Lions, taking three of five sets in a stunning volleyball regular season upset. Monday night in the opening round of the Colonial Conference 25 tournament, the defending 3A state champions made sure a repeat did not take place on their floor.

With the tourney opener deadlocked at a game apiece, the match turned into a rout, thanks mostly to Warhill’s dominance at the net. The Lions advanced with a 25-17, 19-25, 25-12, 25-7 win.

“We had nothing to stop them on the front line,” said Lady Trojan coach Cyndi Burnett, whose team finished the season at 13-11. “And then their servers gave our passers fits. It seemed their serves had a lot of movement on them.”

New Kent never led in the first set, but took advantage of Lion errors to jump in front 5-1 in game two. Warhill closed the gap to 8-7 before Jada Evans’ serve and kills from Kaitlyn Claytor and Paige Simpson built a 12-7 New Kent lead. Warhill crept back within three (19-16), but the Lady Trojans pulled away, closing out the game on a Claytor kill off an Emiley Angle assist.

In game three, New Kent was within one (5-4) on a Tiffany Tolley kill, but Warhill took command behind an 8-1 run. The Lady Trojans never recovered and fell apart in the fourth and final game.

“We gave it a good fight, but they had all the weapons they needed to advance.” Burnett said.

Sydney Griffith led New Kent in kills with eight followed by Claytor (6) and Tolley and Zoe Smith with five each. Angle managed 15 assists.
On defense, Evans recorded a team-high 24 digs while Tolley (3) and Smith (2) led in blocks.