Rosewood advances past Northside
By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on October 24, 2010 1:51 AM
Rosewood overcame a third set lapse and put away Northside High School in four sets to open play in the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A East playoffs on Saturday night.
The Eagles outlasted the Panthers 25-15, 25-16, 24-26, 25-10 at "The Nest."
In the first two sets, Rosewood asserted its dominance at the net behind Ellen Morgan and Rachel Kornegay. Morgan led the home team to a frist set victory with six kills and two blocks. Kornegay got the job done in the second set with three kills and two blocks.
"I thought we started out wiht good intensity and we played our best in the first two sets," Rosewood head coach Jennifer Cochran said. "Ellen was really strong for us in the middle and we did a good job of setting her up with some good passes."
The Panthers battled back in the third set.
Outside hitter Rachel Hollowell and middle hitter Jordan Woolard kept the visitors in the contest. The duo combined for seven kills, including the sets' final point which came on a wicked shot by Woolard.
"I don't think we really let down as far as effort," said Cochran. "We just got a couple of bad bounces and we followed thaat by serving a couple balls into the net at bad times."
Rosewood more than made up for the letdown in the deciding set by dominating throughout. Morgan delivered four kills and a block and the Eagles never trailed. On the night Morgan finished with 17 kills and five blocks. Kornegay added eight kills and two blocks.
The Eagles (19-4) advance to play the winner of a match between Mattamuskeet and Manteo. That match is scheduled for Tuesday at Rosewood. Match time has not been determined.
"We have to get better every round because the competition is going to get better each round," said Cochran. "We had some good moments tonight... We just need to eliminate the mistakes."