Lady Trojans control rallies, keep Smithfield winless

New Kent’s Olivia Foster is able to get down and dig the ball to continue a long rally.

Andre' Jones photo

New Kent head coach Cyndi Burnett said after the game that her team practices long rallies every day. Apparently, that preparation paid dividends when Smithfield’s Lady Packers rolled into town.

The Lady Trojans won all but one long rally against invading Smithfield en route to a 25-13, 25-17, 25-19 sweep over their district rival.

The hosts opened up the match jumping up 4-1 and then doubling up Smithfield 14-7. After a visitors’ timeout, New Kent continued to roll, surviving multiple long rallies with team efforts from diving players and key saves as they went up 21-8 before closing the opening set 25-13.

Lady Trojan Gina Sledd’s services got the home team ahead 6-2 in the second set. New Kent’s methodical methods of setting and serving began tiring the Lady Packers. Outside hitter Katie Ilch paced the hosts, stretching the margin to nine (21-12) before claiming set two.

Smithfield gained its first lead of the night thanks to two consecutive aces by Mariah Sharon and a Kiley Machert kill. The scores didn’t faze the hosts, as they returned the favor to score the next three points. The teams continued to exchange scores before Sledd’s setting led to a Brianne Wayman tip over the net, and two plays later, the duo hooked up again, with Wayman’s spike sealing the sweep for the hosts.

After the game, the victorious head coach spoke about facing the long rallies throughout the game.

“We have good enough players who are used to a lot of long rallies like that in practice,” said Burnett. “Mentally, that’s how we practice every day and the way we reacted to the rallies today is the same way we react to them in practice.”

Burnett also gave praise to her setter Sledd, who positioned teammates all night for easy scores and helped keep the Lady Trojans in attack mode most of the night.

“She is so reliable, so consistent, and a team player,” commented the head coach. “She just gets people in position and makes this team better.”

New Kent improves to 12-6 overall and 8-5 in the Bay Rivers District, while Smithfield remains winless with a 0-18 overall record and 0-15 in the district.