EW volleyball sweeps regular-season series against CBA

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on October 11, 2013 1:48 PM

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rhanchett@newsargus.com

Eastern Wayne's overall record may not overwhelm the casual volleyball fan.

The Warriors have just three wins on the season. But a closer look reveals that those three victories have come at the right time and all in the 3-A portion of the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference.

Eastern Wayne clinched the league's No. 1 seed for the upcoming N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A playoffs with a 25-20, 25-17, 25-19 sweep of county archrival Charles B. Aycock.

"With the split conference all you have to do is beat the other two 3-A teams and we've done that," said Warriors head coach Tony Parrish, whose team is 3-0 against 3-A teams in ECC play.

"Hopefully, we will get a team on our level at home in the first round."

C.B. Aycock jumped in front early and built an 18-15 lead in the first set. Casey Young stepped to the service line for the Warriors and stole the momentum with a pair of aces en route to eight consecutive service points.

Eastern Wayne sealed the set with a kill by Erica Duke.

The Warriors (3-14 overall, 3-8 ECC) built a 17-7 lead in the second set and never looked back.

"I think we have a very good passing team and that really showed in the second set," Parrish said. "Our back line did a great job receiving the serve and putting the ball in good positions."

The teams battled back and forth in the third set.

Eastern Wayne held a perilous 20-19 lead when Duke came through again with a kill that ignited a rally. The Warriors scored the final five points of the set and walked off with the win.

Duke finished with five kills, three blocks and an ace. Young added four aces and three kills. Mariah Stevens tallied five kills and three aces.

The Golden Falcons were paced by middle hitter Meredith Burroughs' six blocks, five kills and two aces. Courtney Warner added two kills and two blocks.

C.B. Aycock (6-13, 2-9) will be the number two seed from the ECC in the state playoffs. The Golden Falcons will also host a first-round game.

"All you can hope as a coach is that being in such a tough conference will have prepared us for the playoffs," Golden Falcons head coach Emily Jordan said. "A lot depends on the draw, but I think we can compete against a lot of 3-A teams."

Eastern Wayne concludes regular-season play next Tuesday at Southern Wayne, while Aycock plays host to New Bern next Wednesday.

The opening round of the NCHSAA playoffs begins Oct. 19.