Eagles spikers soar past Saints

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on August 27, 2010 1:46 PM

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DUDLEY -- Rosewood looked like a team in midseason form.

Southern Wayne looked like a team playing its first match of the season.

The Eagles controlled possession throughout a 25-14, 25-20, 25-14 win over the Saints on Thursday night. The match was the fifth of the season for Rosewood and the experience advantage showed.

Ellen Morgan and Rachel Kornegay set the tone at the net as the Eagles broke out to a 17-12 advantage in the first set. Back-to-back kills by Morgan put the set out of reach.

"I thought our passing was excellent and that allowed us to do some good things at the net," said Rosewood head coach Jennifer Cochran. "We still have a lot of things to work on, but I think our girls are learning fast."

Southern Wayne battled back in the second set behind a strong performance from Madison Davis and Courtney Holland. Davis delivered two aces and Holland powered down three consecutive kills as the Saints seized a 19-18 lead.

Rosewood regrouped and Morgan polished off the Eagles' second set victory with two additional kills.

"Considering it was our first match I thought we did pretty well," said Southern Wayne head coach Eric Dural. "I don't think we played as bad as the score looked at the end."

A pair of aces by Summer Jones and three early kills in the third set by Kornegay put the Eagles out in front 19-7 and allowed them to cruise until the end.

Morgan paced the Rosewood offense with 14 kills and two blocks. Kornegay finished the match with seven kills. Megann Tyndall tallied four aces.

Southern Wayne was led by Holland's seven-kill performance. Davis added four aces.

The Eagles (4-1 overall) entertains Cleveland High School on Monday. The Saints (0-1) travel to Southern Nash on Monday.