Golden Falcons earn ECC win

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on September 14, 2011 1:49 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- After being dominated in the opening set, Eastern Wayne head coach Tony Parrish challenged his team to forget about the score and compete.

The Warriors responded with two improved sets, but could not overcome red-hot Charles B. Aycock, which earned a 25-4, 25-19, 25-19 win on the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference volleyball scene on Tuesday night.

"I told them to turn it around and play their best in the second set," Parrish said. "I was proud of them because I felt like we made C.B. Aycock earn the win instead of giving it to them."

Everything went the Golden Falcons' way early as they clobbered the Warriors 25-4.

The momentum turned in the second set as Eastern Wayne began to play better defensively and C.B. Aycock failed to show its normal level of intensity. Golden Falcons' head coach Davis Harris voiced his displeasure during a timeout and the home team rallied for a relatively comfortable 25-19 win on the strength of back-to-back aces by Rachel Jordan.

"I think when you come out and play so well at the start it's easy to sit back and expect that to carry over," said Harris. "(Eastern Wayne) started getting to some balls that they didn't get to in the first set and it didn't look like we were ready when they did hit them back at us."

Eastern Wayne built an 8-4 lead in the third set before Madison Mercer ignited the Golden Falcons with a block and a pair of kills. Aycock rattled off seven consecutive points and claimed the victory.

Mercer led the Golden Falcons with eight kills and two blocks. Connor Davis added seven kills.

"I felt like we got away from our hitting a little bit tonight, especially late in the match," said Harris. "But anytime you get a win in this conference, it's a big win."

Tiffany Gussenhofen led the Warriors with six digs. Brooke Doherty added three kills and two blocks, while teammate Jasmine Benjamin served three aces.

Eastern Wayne (3-6 overall, 0-4 ECC) plays host to Triton on Thursday. C.B. Aycock (7-1, 3-1) entertains Princeton today.