Rosewood sweeps Spring Creek on the Carolina 1-A scene

By Gabe Whisnant
Published in Sports on October 6, 2006 2:23 PM

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One week removed from suffering back-to-back losses at Princeton and Ayden-Grifton, Rosewood's volleyball team has bounced back in impressive fashion.

The Eagles followed up a four-game win at home over North Johnston on Tuesday with a three-game sweep over Spring Creek on Thursday.

Rosewood (14-3 overall) claimed the match 25-9, 25-9, 25-20 and improved to 6-2 in the Class 1-A Carolina Conference heading into the final week of conference play.

"We had a good week of practice this week and the North Johnston game carried into what we did today," Eagles coach Jennifer Cochran said. "Tonight was our best match in a long time."

The Gators (4-9 overall), who took the Eagles to five games earlier in the season in Seven Springs, slipped to 2-6 against league foes.

"Our serving got us today. It seemed like when we didn't get our serves in, we got disgusted," Spring Creek coach Deanna Morris said. "Rosewood's got a great team and a great coach. Their hitters did a solid job, and I don't think our heads were completely in the game."

The Gators had a minimal lead at the start of every game, including a 4-0 advantage in game two, but Rosewood quickly and decidedly took the momentum each time.

The attacking and blocking up front by Kasie Braswell (10 kills) and Ashley Williams (six kills, five blocks), kept the visitors off-balance in the first game as Rosewood steadily pulled away.

With Chandra Meadows serving, Williams posted two blocks and two kills to push the score to 25-9.

"Our outside hitters did a remarkable job," Cochran said. "A lot of teams are setting up a double-block in the middle to stop Courtney (Hill), so we've been working on mixing it up a lot more."

With an 8-6 lead in game two, Chandra Meadows stepped to the back line and served on 14 straight points to put the game out of reach. Meadows had five aces during the run, while Braswell and Williams combined for six kills.

The third set proved to be the most competitive of the match as Spring Creek stayed within one point after a kill by Shaquita Brooks made it 11-10. From there, Hill took serve and pushed the score all the way to 20-10 -- providing five aces during the stretch.

Down 24-13, the Gators fought back to get it to 24-20 on a kill by Tasha Whitfield before a tip by Williams closed out the game and match.

Reinhard finished with 18 assists, while teammate Roxie Phillips added seven assists and four digs.

Brooks and Whitfield finished with two kills and two blocks each as Brandi Simpkins served up four aces. Brooke Albertson dished out five assits.

"We don't have any seniors this year, so the future looks bright for the program," Morris said. "The girls just need to keep working hard the rest of the year and through the offseason."

The Eagles host Union today in a non-conference, make-up game then travel to North Duplin next Tuesday in Carolina play. The Gators travel to North Johnston on Tuesday.