
Breonna McNeill makes a kill in Tuesday’s match.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Triton’s varsity volleyball team dropped a Tri-County Six 3-A Conference match in five sets against visiting Southern Lee on Tuesday by scores of 25-14, 20-25, 14-25, 25-19 and 15-13.
Triton coach Wendy Simmons cited multiple communication breakdowns as a key factor.
“A lot of times, that’s exactly what it is,” Simmons said. “Two people try to play the ball at the same time and you lose a little point here and a little point there and it adds up to big points and you’re in a hole. Communication is the key.”
The win guarantees the Cavaliers (10-5, 6-1) no worse than a second-place finish in the conference.
Seniors Evie Pollard and Tyler Grace Gamblin each recorded a double-double to lead the Hawks (8-11, 2-5 TCSC). Pollard had 16 kills, one block and 22 digs and Gamblin had one kill, 32 assists, 16 digs and one ace.
Junior Gracyn Slaughter was also a leading performer for Triton, with one kill, two assists, 31 digs and three aces on 11 service points.
Sophomore Grace Wilson was a late spark off the bench for Triton in the final two sets. She had three kills and two blocks.
“She will be the first to tell you that she loves it,” Simmons said. “And she believes that she’s good and that makes a difference. I like the enthusiasm. It seems like the only time we might have enthusiasm is like a hard kill or a great block. But as far as just the little things getting us excited, they don’t. Not like it does her.”
Leah Brannon had eight kills and 17 digs and held serve for nine points. Breigh Hobbs had six kills, three assists, one dig and two aces on four service points. Breonna McNeill had five kills, two blocks, three digs and two aces on seven service points. Bethany Norris had two kills, two digs and one ace on two service points. Sydney Morrison had three assists and 11 digs. Chelby Pascale had six digs and held serve for nine points. Maddie Stephens had five digs and held serve for one point.
The Cavaliers (10-5, 6-1) were led by junior Josie Poston, with 10 kills and two blocks, and senior Lily Bonner, with four kills, 30 assists and two aces on nine service points.
With Triton holding an 11-10 lead in the first set, Gamblin sent the ball over on two for a kill, assisted by Slaughter, to start a 14-4 Triton run to end the set.
With the score tied 18-18 in the second set, a Tanner West kill, assisted by Bonner, started a 5-2 Cavaliers run to end the set.
The Cavaliers went on a 9-3 run to start the third set and dominated the set to take the 2-1 match lead.
Triton made some lineup changes going into the fourth set, inserting several players off of the bench. The change worked, as, with the Cavaliers holding a 17-16 lead, a Wilson kill, assisted by Gamblin, sparked a 9-2 run to send the match to the decisive fifth set.
“Those went out there and played like they wanted to be out there,” Simmons said. “I thought Sydney and Grace Wilson played very well.”
The Cavaliers led the entire fifth set, though the Hawks kept it close. With the Cavaliers holding match point, at 14-11, a service error and a McNeill ace briefly kept the Hawks alive. But Savannah Birdsong ended the match with a kill, assisted by Bonner.
Triton travels to conference and Harnett County rival Western Harnett (2-12, 2-5) on Thursday.

Evie Pollard makes a dig against Southern Lee.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Gracyn Slaughter digs in Triton’s five-set loss on Tuesday.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Sydney Morrison sets for the Hawks in Tuesday’s league match.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Leah Brannon goes up to put away a point for the Hawks.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

Grace Wilson gets a kill for Triton against the Cavaliers.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)