Chargers turn back Knights in CPIC volleyball match

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on September 27, 2013 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Steve Mau's pre-game worries were quickly put to rest once Wayne Country Day stepped onto the volleyball court and turned in a dominating effort Thursday afternoon.

Rachel Uzzell dished out 32 assists and the Chargers served 26 aces as a team in a 25-9, 25-11, 25-11 rout of Greenfield on the Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference scene.

The Chargers (6-8 overall) defeated their first CPIC opponent in six tries this season.

Mau wasn't sure how the team would respond after a come-from-behind triumph over Community Christian three days ago, and a three-set loss to CPIC foe Epiphany on Wednesday. He just hoped the Chargers would avoid the letdown after facing two quality opponents that should reach the postseason.

"I was most nervous about tonight's match," a smiling Mau said. "After watching the girls fight against Community and knowing what they had inside of them, I felt comfortable going up against Epiphany and showing them that we had a very strong team, which we did.

"Coming off a difficult match into an easier match can be a pitfall."

WCDS undoubtedly avoided the letdown against Greenfield, which had no offensive system and preferred to send transition balls over the net during most of the three-set affair. The Chargers collected 33 kills and committed just eight hitting errors in 73 attempts, which translated to a .342 attack percentage.

Juniors Celeste Davis and Sarah Crooks posted 11 kills apiece. Davis smacked an overpass back over the net to cap the opening set. Junior Tiffany Larsen added five kills and sealed the second set with a kill off of Uzzell's assist.

Bailee Creger provided five kills, including match point off of Uzzell's assist after a short rally.

"The girls didn't give up, didn't play down to the other team's level," Mau said. "We had a few mental mistakes, but overall they set the tempo of the match and kept it where they wanted to outside of those few errors."

The Chargers entertain Pope John Paul II Catholic HS on Tuesday. PJP won the first meeting in four sets.