Morgan returns, Rosewood turns back Rebels in four sets
By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on September 23, 2011 1:48 PM
CALYPSO -- Rosewood interim head coach Bill Johnson survived a set without star outside hitter Ellen Morgan.
He then unleashed his biggest offensive weapon and watched as the Eagles rallied for a 25-23, 25-8, 21-25, 25-16 win over Carolina 1-A Conference foe North Duplin on Thursday night.
Johnson, who is coaching in place of Jennifer Cochran (out on maternity leave), made the decision to keep Morgan out for the first set due to missed practice time which was the result of shoulder tendinitis. North Duplin took advantage and raced out to an 18-15 lead.
A pair of blocks by Crystal Allen pulled the Eagles within one point. After North Duplin extended the lead to 20-17, Anna Ingram put down a kill and Scout Anderson delivered an ace for the Eagles. A pair of North Duplin unforced errors put the visitors ahead for good in the set.
"We barely won that first set but we pulled it out and it got the girls excited," Johnson said. "After that I decided to put Ellen in the game and she really pushed us to another level in the second set."
Morgan delivered six kills in the second set as the Eagles cruised to victory and the Rebels tried to find ways to recover. Behind strong play at the net from Tearra Ammons and Skylar McCarty, North Duplin stole the momentum back with a third-set victory.
"Overall, I thought we played really well the first half of the first (set) and during the third set," Rebels head coach Kelly Brown said. "The second and fourth sets we simply gave away too many points. I think we missed 13 serves, which is too many against a good opponent."
Rosewood closed the match with a convincing win in the fourth set. A pair of kills by Laura Vinson gave the Eagles a 22-14 lead and essentially put the match away.
Morgan finished with nine kills to lead the Eagles. Vinson added six kills while Allen tallied five kills and five blocks.
North Duplin was paced by McCarty's nine kills. Ammons finished with five kills and four blocks.
Rosewood (10-3 overall, 4-0 CC) will host Corinth-Holders on Monday before a key showdown with archrival Princeton on Tuesday. North Duplin (8-4, 2-2) travels to Spring Creek on Tuesday.