CHARGER INVITATIONAL: Wayne Christian captures title

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 14, 2016 1:45 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

The Eagles are soaring.

Rick Moore hopes they don't land any time soon.

Hannah Sladick earned Most Valuable Player honors and Wayne Christian secured the Charger Invitational volleyball championship with a 27-25, 25-20, 25-6 triumph over Neuse Christian on Saturday afternoon.

Sladick just missed a double-double -- eight kills, 10 service aces -- for the Eagles, who improved to 5-0 heading into next Wednesday's non-conference clash at Parrott Academy.

Wayne Christian finished pool play unbeaten and drew the No. 1 seed for the single-elimination portion of the four-team tournament. It eliminated fourth-seeded Wayne Country Day 25-12, 25-15, 25-11.

Sladick and Hope Shook combined for 17 kills. Setter Kasey Norris passed out 23 assists and served five aces.

The Chargers fell to 0-4.

In the final, Wayne Christian received contributions from not only Sladick, but Ashlee Harrelson (three kills), Holly Gurley (five digs), Ashton Cobb (her first career block), Shook (eight aces), Sarah Sawyer (two digs) and Amanda Morrell (one dig).

"I think we're doing well for this early in the season," Moore said after a straight-set sweep of WCDS on Friday morning.

"They're playing their positions like they need to for the most part, but there are a few things we need to work on. (We're) a little rough around the edges with the passing and hitting, which will settle in as the season goes on."

The Eagles looked comfortable on defense -- especially in the second set. They covered the court well, digging up difficult hits and getting their fists on off-speed shots that allowed them to generate an attack.

Norris' service ace tied the second set at 12-12. Shook dug up a cross-court kill attempt and Norris dumped the ball over the net for her third -- and final -- kill of the decisive set.

Shook's defensive play sparked a match-ending 13-4 run.

"That's the thing I think we've improved on more than anything else from last year that I'm seeing," Moore said. "Our defense ... our ability to pass a hard hit so our setter can get to it and we can get a hit ourselves."

Sladick paced the Eagles' offense with a match-high eight kills. She slammed two over passes back to the Chargers when the outcome had all but been determined.

Norris distributed 13 kills among five hitters.

WCDS head coach Haleigh Wilhade praised her team's effort, but admitted they had some kinks to iron out. It was the Chargers' first live match of the season.

"They impressed me with their ability to hustle, their ability to talk and their ability to come together as a team," Wilhade said. "Our second set, we improved on our serve. They were getting their nerves out, getting back into the groove of things."

Rosewood transfer Jala Holloman collected four kills for the Chargers. Lillian Freeman and Jaden DisDier logged three kills apiece. DeKiya Thomas handed out nine assists.

Wayne Christian owned a 14-4 edge in aces.

The Eagles completed pool play 3-0 with straight-set decisions over former Carolina Christian 1-A Conference foe Neuse Christian and Halifax Academy. Sladick contributed 22 kills, four blocks and five digs during the two wins.

"(Hannah) has the height, she's got the experience, she's got the team around her who can get the ball to the setter so she can hit," Moore said. "She's a very solid player."

Shook turned in a five-kill effort against Neuse. Ashlee Harrelson cranked out six kills against Halifax. Teammates Holly Gurley and Sarah Sawyer also contributed to the victories.

The Chargers (0-4) dropped a 23-25, 29-27, 20-25 decision to Halifax Academy. Hannah Neal provided eight kills and three aces. Holloman delivered seven kills and four aces.

Neuse defeated WCDS 25-14, 25-22. Neal and Holloman each had seven kills. Thomas registered 16 assists.