Dogs capitalize on Aycock mistakes
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 26, 2009 1:46 PM
PIKEVILLE -- Princeton played its typical match.
Charles B. Aycock struggled with consistency.
The Bulldogs served strong, scrapped defensively and claimed a 25-12, 25-18, 25-21 victory in the Falcons Nest on Tuesday afternoon.
Princeton recorded 20 service aces and transitioned well from defense to offense in the 51-minute, three-set match. Six different players collected two or more kills and senior setter Erin Schultze, the lone returning starter, handed out nine assists.
"This week we have done a good job on our serves and been very focused," said sixth-year Bulldogs head coach Trudi Rast. "This group of girls works great together as a team communicating (on the court). I'm impressed at how they've improved from last week, working together and getting a feel for how each other plays."
Sophomore outside hitter Conner Davis paced Aycock's attack with five kills. Senior Miranda Aycock, one of three returning starters, and sophomore Samantha Parrish combined for 12 assists.
However, the Golden Falcons (0-3 overall) committed 21 unforced errors that included missed serves, ball-handling mistakes and miscommunication in the serve-receive game.
"We've been working on passing and we can't wait for somebody to make a mistake before we get going (offensively)," said 10th-year Aycock head coach Davis Harris. "Every team is going to have some good servers (but) you've got to fight through it, dig down deep and play with heart.
"We didn't do that ... just sat back and waited."
Princeton (3-1) used its strong service game to grab five-point leads in each of the first two sets. Junior Cassidy Anderson put Aycock in front 1-0 in the third set with a kill off Parrish's assist, but the advantage was shortlived.
The Dogs earned a sideout and slowly built a 19-12 cushion. The Golden Falcons pulled within 21-14 on Brittany Jackson's assist. A hitting error gave Princeton a 24-16 advantage and Aycock fended off five match points as Jackson served three aces during that stretch.
A serve error secured the Dogs' road win.
"We can never get complacent, but continue to fight until we get 25 (points)," said Rast, whose team converted just three of nine set points. "We came out strong, but we kind of get in a lull and with rally serving, the game can change in the blink of an eye. Anything can happen."
Aycock returns home Thursday against Greene Central.
"We saw it all today," said Harris. "Give them credit, but we didn't come to play. Our heads weren't in it."