Ivanna Jones registers a kill for Harnett Central on Monday.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Returning to Triton just four days after suffering a 3-0 loss to end the regular season, fourth-seeded Harnett Central’s varsity volleyball team game back strong with a 3-1 win over Harnett County rival Western Harnett, the No. 5 seed, in the first round of the Tri-County Six 3-A Conference volleyball tournament on Monday. Individual set scores were 25-15, 25-14, 22-25 and 25-16.

“It was quite a different night,” said Harnett Central coach Jason Harrell. “We came out really focused tonight and looked much better than we did on Thursday. We made a conscious effort to move the ball around tonight and I thought we did a really good job of that. We were trying to stay aggressive and I think it paid off for us.”

Junior Syniah McMiller had 10 kills and three blocks, senior Lauryn Waddell had nine kills, two blocks and three aces on 18 service points, sophomore Ivanna Jones had nine kills, sophomore Carlee Harrell had 33 assists and senior Alexis Gordon had 19 digs and one ace on 13 service points to lead the Trojans (8-13).

Harper Howell had six kills, 10 digs and one ace on 13 service points. Madeline Langdon had three kills and 10 digs and held serve for two points. Laurie Blackwell, returning from an injury suffered last Tuesday, had six digs and one ace on four service points. Waddell and Jones had three digs apiece. Carlie Gardner had two digs. Kayla Sadowski and Mikaela Goss had one dig apiece. Carlee Harrell had one ace on seven service points.

“It was a good team win,” coach Harrell said. “Everybody did contribute at some point.”

Sophomore Makenyia Mackey had a double-double, with 11 kills and 13 digs, junior Makyia Mackey had 10 kills and two blocks, junior Lindsey Worrell had 27 assists and two aces on 12 service points and senior Jordyn Neighbors had 15 digs to lead the Eagles (3-15).

Neighbors had five kills and held serve for one point. Worrell had one kill and eight digs. Jada Byrd had one kill. Erin Kelly had one assist and seven digs and held serve for four points. Makyia Mackey had five digs and one ace on four service points. Logan Holmes had four digs and held serve for two points. Gracie Olive had three digs and two aces on four service points. Andrionna Buie had one dig. Makenyia Mackey had one ace on seven service points.

After Central dominated the first two sets, Western battled back to narrowly take the third and extend its season.

But in the fourth set, with the score tied 8-8, Central went on a 9-0 run to take control of the set and did not allow the lead to fall below seven the rest of the way.

Harnett Central travels to Union Pines to face the top-seeded host Vikings (21-2) in the second round of the conference tournament on Wednesday. The winner advances to Wednesday’s championship match against the winner of Wednesday’s match between No. 3 Triton (11-12) vs No. 2 Southern Lee (11-8), which will also be played at Union Pines on Wedesday. The highest remaining seed hosts the championship in the last game of the league tournament on Wednesday.

The semifinals originally were scheduled for Tuesday but were postponed because of the threat of inclement weather.

Alexis Gordon extends to make a dig for the Trojans.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Makenyia Mackey of Western Harnett makes a kill.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Lauryn Waddell serves an ace for Harnett Central.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Jordyn Neighbors spikes away a point for Western Harnett.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Syniah McMiller (left) gets a block for the Trojans.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Western’s seniors are, from left, Andrionna Buie, Jordyn Neighbors and Jada Byrd. (Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)