Lakewood ends Princeton's 3-year reign as Carolina 1A volleyball champs
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 10, 2014 1:48 PM
rcoggins@newsargus.com
PRINCETON -- Lakewood lived by the simple volleyball principal -- pass, set and attack -- on Thursday afternoon.
And the Leopards did it in dominating fashion.
Senior outside hitters Rashyda Parker and Lauren Tew combined for 36 kills in a 25-20, 24-26, 25-16, 25-12 over perennial powerhouse Princeton in the Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season finale for both teams. Lakewood remained unbeaten in 18 outings and claimed the outright conference championship -- its first since winning the 2011 crown as a member of the Tri-County 1-A Conference.
The four-set loss ended Princeton's three-year reign as league champ.
"Oh my God, Lakewood is a phenomenal team," Bulldogs head coach Paige Renfrow said. "I can't take anything away from Lakewood. They have strong offense, they have remarkable defense and at times we answered back.
"But we fell short a lot of times. Our defense struggled with passing a lot to the top of the net and with blockers like they have, when it's passed to the net it's going to go straight down."
Lakewood owned a decisive 56-39 edge in team kills and 11-2 advantage in team blocks. Senior setter Emily Lewis distributed 49 of the Leopards' 52 team assists among eight hitters as the Leopards flourished in their offensive system during the final two sets.
Parker emerged as the offensive leader with 10 kills and three blocks during the first two sets. Tew, who is getting attention from UNC Pembroke and Methodist University, came alive in the final two sets. The Wilmington Ashley transfer managed just four kills the first two sets and contributed 15 in the third and fourth sets combined.
"They are incredible ... so blessed to have them as hitters," Lewis said. "Jordan just got here this year and has been a tremendous asset to the team, she is great. Rashyda, she's been with me since middle school and we've had a long-lasting bond.
"They're always there to fix my sets, they save my butt a number of times."
Princeton, uncharacteristically, stayed in defensive mode for most of the four-set affair. The Bulldogs (15-3, 12-2 CC) lacked communication on occasion and connected on a few point-scoring kills in sporadic fashion.
Taylor Carroll and Kelsey, one of four seniors on the team, combined for 23 of the Bulldogs' 38 team kills. Senior setter Charley Cox dished out 30 assists and reached multiple figures -- along with fellow senior Jenna Woodard -- in digs on defense.
Princeton committed 27 errors.
"It was a tough night, very tough night," Renfrow said. "We struggled in some rough places, but Lakewood is a good team. We, I feel like, every game started out behind. Whenever you're behind, it's so hard dig your way back."