Rosewood snaps two-game skid in volleyball

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on October 3, 2012 1:49 PM

• Print
• Email

Rosewood desperately needed to get back on track.

Goldsboro is still learning to believe it belongs.

The Eagles shook off a pair of back-to-back Carolina 1-A Conference losses from last week with a 25-17, 25-12, 25-12 win over the Cougars on Tuesday evening.

Rosewood started slowly as players who have been sidelined by injuries at various times during the season worked to develop chemistry. Ellen Morgan supplied a kill and a service ace as the Eagles opened up a 16-8 lead in set one.

Maddie Jara delivered three aces as Goldsboro pulled to within 19-13. Costly Cougars' errors and Samantha Martin's ace closed out set one.

"I think getting back on track was real important," Rosewood head coach Jennifer Cochran said. "We're still not where we need to be, but this is just the third game we're all back together after the injuries we've had. We're getting back into the groove of things."

Goldsboro struggled with its serve receive in set two and three aces from Anna Ingram helped the Eagles (12-6 overall, 5-2 CC) jump out to an 11-3 lead.

The Cougars cut the deficit to 17-10 before kills from Lexi Mercer and Heather Lancaster and two aces from Ingram put away the second set.

"I think we did a good job of putting the ball in the left corner," Cochran said. "We also did a good job serving and just picking them apart in their setter stack. I felt like we converted on the free ball a lot."

Goldsboro (2-14, 0-6) took advantage of Rosewood miscues early in set three. Bailee Ellis' ace and Brandy Johnson's block helped give the Cougars a 10-7 lead.

"We came and showed some flashes," Goldsboro head coach T.J. Lancaster said. "When we attack, we go at it and we put Rosewood on their heels a little bit. The physical part is there, but we've got to get the mental part taken care of. We're still learning to believe that we belong.

"It doesn't click over night."

Allen's off-speed hit created a 14-14 tie and Crystal Allen contributed four kills down the stretch to finish off the match. Morgan and Mercer each tallied six kills and Crystal Allen had five. Ingram distributed 12 assists.

The Cougars visit Princeton today before playing host to the Bulldogs on Thursday. Rosewood entertains Spring Creek on Thursday.