Lady Trojans turn back York in straight sets

By Alan Chamberlain | October 2, 2014 11:20 pm

Lady Trojans Kayla Davis (4) and Kaitlyn Claytor make a leaping attempt to block a spike by York's Trinity Choice.

Alan Chamberlain photo

New Kent’s Lady Trojans struggled to hold off York to win the first two sets before putting away the visiting Falcons in the third on the way to earning a straight set 25-22, 25-21, 25-9 triumph in tonight’s (Thursday’s) volleyball clash.

For the night, the hosts never relinquished the lead although the Falcons forged ties on more than one occasion in sets one and two. But each time the visitors caught up, the Lady Trojans had answers, moving back in front en route to raising their record to 6-4.

“[York’s] best player sat out the whole game [due to discipline reasons], and it could have been a different game,” said Lady Trojan head coach Cyndi Burnett. “But that’s not to take anything away from my girls.

“Our serving was good, not great, and our hitters got in some good hits,” she said. “Paige [Simpson] got to some balls that I didn’t think any setter would get to.

“This was a good win for us, and we need a win like that in this league,” she added.

Sydney Griffith opened the match with two of her seven kills on the night to help New Kent take a 5-0 lead, but York recovered, overtaking their hosts at 9-all. Kills from Kayla Davis and Kaitlyn Claytor put the hosts back on track and ended the York surge, but only temporarily.

York wiped out a 22-17 New Kent lead with five unanswered points before Davis bailed out the hosts with another kill. Falcon errors then helped the hosts close out the first set.

In set two, the Lady Trojans built a 19-12 lead, but had to weather another Falcon rally that pulled the visitors within one at 21-20. Millie Rudolph rescued New Kent with a kill for a 22-20 advantage and side out. Stepping in to serve, Rudolph then delivered a pair of aces to lengthen the margin to 24-20. After York got one point back, Griffith’s kill put the second set in New Kent’s win column.

The Lady Trojans quickly mounted a 6-0 lead in set three and never looked back.

Madison Beasley’s 11 kills paced the Lady Trojan offense. Zoe Smith contributed five kills while Rudolph finished with four and recorded a team-high seven aces. Simpson led in assists with 19 while Griffith had six aces. Alyssa Krause sparked the defense with seven digs.