Eagles avenge earlier loss, stay in playoff chase

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 8, 2008 1:51 PM

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CALYPSO -- Talk about a close race.

With two playing dates left on the Class 1-A Carolina Conference volleyball scene, the only sure bet is North Johnston has repeated as regular-season champion.

The rest of the teams ... well ... they just don't know where they'll end up.

"This is as close as I can remember the conference ever being," said Rosewood coach Jennifer Cochran before Tuesday's match at North Duplin. "It's great."

Especially for the Eagles ... now.

Middle hitter Taylor Johnson delivered a match-high 17 kills as Rosewood bounced back to defeat North Duplin 17-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-17. The Eagles (6-9 overall) improved to 4-4 in league play with a pivotal contest at Ayden-Grifton today.

North Duplin, meanwhile, tumbled into a last-place tie with archrival and 2007 conference co-champion Spring Creek at 3-6. The teams meet Thursday in Seven Springs.

While the teams jockeyed for position in the conference, emotions flowed freely in a warm North Duplin gymnasium. It was the second installment of the inaugural Susan G. Komen Foundation event to help raise money for cancer awareness. It was also senior night for the Rebels' Sam Cates, Katlyn Eloshway and Katie Swanzey.

"This is the best game we've played in about three games," said North Duplin head coach Heather Best. "If you're basing it on improvement, that's what we did today. Unfortunately, we didn't come out on top and those things happen."

North Duplin (5-8) dominated the opening set.

Terra Ammons notched three of her team-leading eight kills and added a block as the Rebels grabbed a commanding 16-3 lead. The Eagles closed within 19-13 on Johnson's kill of Paige Babb's assist, but could get no closer.

Cates and Ammons combined for three kills in a set-clinching 6-4 run.

As the teams switched sides, both coaches got vocal. Cochran reminded her seniors their postseason hopes rode on the match, while Best encouraged her team to keep playing together and hard on every point.

Johnson's kill off Babb's assist gave Rosewood an 11-10 lead in the second set. Karen Babb followed with a kill and the Eagles slowly pulled away as they fed off North Duplin errors.

"I told them this was it for our five seniors and their chance to go to the playoffs. They have to win all three," said Cochran. "I think that kind of hit them hard. I thought our passing improved in the second, third and fourth games, so we were able to put balls away, especially when Taylor was in the front row.

"That was crucial for us."

Karen Babb's kill forged a 5-5 tie in the third set and the Eagles stretched their advantage with a consistent sideout game. Unforced errors began to pile up for the Rebels, who couldn't establish an offensive rhythm.

Early miscues allowed Rosewood to gain momentum in the fourth set. Tied at 6-6, Johnson delivered back-to-back kills off Paige Babb's feeds to put the Eagles in front to stay. Babb finished with a season-high 27 assists.

"Taylor ... she's a machine," said Best.

However, Best wondered where her team, which played aggressive in the opening set, disappeared to as the match progressed.

"If you know where they went, let me know so I can go find them," she said. "We have a tendency to do that and I call it the 'curse.' I don't know where it comes from, but I wish it would go away."

Felicia Lynch finished with eight assists for the Rebels. Cates added eight assists, seven kills and one block. Ammon provided two blocks.