Chargers sweep Cougars on volleyball court

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on September 5, 2012 1:48 PM

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Juliet Jones did not mince words during a timeout.

Wayne Country Day got the message.

The Chargers overcame a shaky start and defeated visiting Goldsboro 25-15, 25-20, 25-11 on Tuesday evening.

Both teams struggled with service receive in the opening set as the two teams combined for 10 aces. Back-to-back aces from Jessica Zhou gave Wayne Country Day a 15-9 advantage.

Alexus Davis supplied a block for the Cougars and Nickie Tyler's ace pulled the Cougars to within 21-13. Goldsboro committed hitting errors down the stretch and Zhou's off-speed hit closed out set one.

"At moments we played well," Cougars' head coach T.J. Lancaster said. "There were times where our passing and our serve receive was fine, we just had hitting errors. Then I felt like in games two and three the serve receive went away from us and we got better at the net."

Jones got her team's attention during a timeout after falling behind 8-6 early in set two. Jones reminded the Chargers "They aren't going to give it to you. You have to play with intensity."

Wayne Country Day (7-1 overall) responded with aggressive play and began communicating on the court. Kills from Hannah Pearson and Baliee Creger along with Sarah Crooks' tip pushed the Chargers in front 15-12.

Aces from Pearson and Creger helped finish off set two.

"I told them that if you're not coming from the floor to the bench during a timeout and you are not breathing hard, you are not working hard," Jones said. "Then, we had some moments where we had great intensity. I just told them to play hard every point."

Wayne Country Day jumped out to a 5-0 lead in set three and continued to attack the net. Pearson contributed a kill and two aces, while Rachel Uzzell added a block. Brooke Neal supplied a kill and Crooks' ace helped put Goldsboro away.

"We were kind of sluggish to start with," Jones said. "Communication is very big for us, and we just have to follow the ball with our eyes and communicate about where it needs to go."

Pearson finished with three kills and three aces. Johnson led the Cougars with four aces and three kills.

Wayne Country Day visits Oakwood on Thursday, while Goldsboro (2-6) travels to Jones Senior.