Hustle, heart push Princeton into state 1A volleyball final
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 31, 2014 1:51 PM
rcoggins@newsargus.com
PRINCETON -- Each season, Paige Renfrow scours different sources to find motivational quotes for her volleyball team.
She couldn't have found a more appropriate proverb this season -- "hustle and heart set us apart." It's been the cornerstone of success for a group of players who have come together as a team at the right time.
Tuesday was a perfect example.
Down 2-1 to top-seeded and unbeaten Lakewood, and reeling from a disastrous third set, the Bulldogs -- somehow -- rekindled that burning desire that had been present during their first four postseason games. They seized control of the match and put the Leopards on their heels.
What followed was no less than remarkable.
Princeton dominated the fourth set nd opened the fifth set with an 11-0 run. Renfrow's team weathered a late-set rally and finally achieved what has eluded it for the past two years -- a regional championship.
"I think, by now, we're the queen of comebacks, I would say," grinned Bulldogs libero Jenna Woodard. "Coach Paige always pushes us, telling us we can do this (and) fight through this. We just have to work as a team and communicate."
The confident Bulldogs (22-4 overall) face once-beaten East Surry (29-1) in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A state championship match Saturday. First serve is 2:30 p.m. inside historic Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh.
Admission is $9.
Princeton is the first Carolina Conference team to reach the state final since Farmville Central finished runner-up to Starmount in 2004.
Less than two weeks ago, Renfrow watched her team drop a five-set heartbreaker to Lakewood in the conference tournament championship. Two crucial ball-handling errors gave LHS some breathing room.
Renfrow said the Bulldogs had played their best match of the year and reached their peak.
"We've been climbing uphill since then," Renfrow said.
But they've scaled the mountain with a purpose and have adopted the philosophy that nothing is good enough, and they're not ready to give up on defeat. The Bulldogs have knocked off the Nos. 1, 2, 6 and 7 seeds -- all on the road -- along the way.
The foundation has been tempo and defense.
Princeton has refused to let other teams dictate the pace and their court movement has frustrated numerous opponents. Consistent touches on the ball at the net vexed Lakewood in the final two sets.
The final touch set up Emily Ricks.
Setter Charley Cox received the pass, pushed the ball to the outside and Ricks got a good swing on it. The ball deflected off a back-row defender, bounced toward the wall and Ricks was enveloped in a bearhug moments later.
"Oh, gosh, I love Emily," Woodard said. "She's done a fantastic job of keeping her composure and helping us get through this. She's been a real asset to the team."
A team that's found its identity.
A team that's developed a strong heartbeat that doesn't thump individually, but together as one soul.
"We've been down in several sets and we've been able to play as a team, get it back and beat the competition," said Renfrow, who has a career record of 87-16.
"I'm so proud of these girls. They have the most heart, the most desire. We're going to the state finals ... unreal."