VOLLEYBALL: Princeton takes sole possession of Carolina 1A lead

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on September 21, 2016 9:59 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

PRINCETON -- To succeed in everything, you must give everything.

The succinct statement defined Princeton's defensive effort on the volleyball court Tuesday evening.

The Bulldogs allowed just one ball to drop untouched and shut down perennial power Lakewood 25-20, 25-9, 25-18 to seize sole possession of the Carolina 1-A Conference lead at the halfway point of the season.

"Our defense was great all the way around with each girl, even the subs off the bench were able to go in and play really good defense," PHS head coach Paige Renfrow said. "We picked up the tip shots or (hits) off of our blocks...was very impressed with our defense -- the defense I've been waiting to see this season.

"They did it today."

Princeton covered the floor like a blanket.

Lakewood (9-4 overall, 6-1 CC) never developed an offensive rhythm against the Bulldogs, who dove for every loose ball and recovered shanked passes out of the net which led to transition balls that the Leopards never used to their advantage.

The visitors tallied just 20 offensive points during the 71-minute affair.

Princeton surrendered 27 points on defensive miscues, but more than atoned for its errors on offense. Senior setter Beth Braswell worked the ball around the net with precision and doled out 28 assists among six attackers.

Senior Daisey Eklund delivered a double-double -- 18 kills, 12 aces. Kortney Edwards provided five kills. Emily Ricks supplied four kills. Leah Narron and Maryssa Proctor each had three kills, while Erika Hines delivered two kills.

The Dogs had 33 assists as a team.

"I am pleased to say that we do have options," Renfrow said. "Daisey is definitely our powerhouse. She's human, she's a teenager, so even she gets in a rut sometimes. You have to have others to go to (on the court). Kortney played well tonight.

"Emily played really well. Leah in the middle opposite of Daisey, she had a good night as well."

Princeton (10-3) overcame an uncharacteristic 15 unforced errors in the opening set. A five-point lead turned into a 20-19 deficit before Eklund converted a back row attack. The Bulldogs reeled off the final five points and took the opening set on Edwards' kill that rolled along the net and dropped on Lakewood's side of the court.

Eklund warmed up offensively in the second set as Princeton scored 16 of the first 19 points. Consecutive unforced errors capped a dominating second set that all but deflated Lakewood.

The Bulldogs raced to a 6-0 lead in set three and never looked back. The Leopards closed the gap to 9-8, but Eklund drilled a backside cross-court shot that bounced up into the stands to ignite a decisive 8-1 run.

"I feel like, for the most part, our offense was on," said Renfrow, whose team served 18 aces.