South completes historic sweep of Hawks

by John Lucas | Aug 24, 2018 | South Johnston

South Johnston’s Jessica Johnson (3) sets up Savannah Hines (9).
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)

For the first time ever during the 12-year tenure of coach Matthew Adams, South Johnston took a varsity volleyball season sweep over rival Triton with a 3-1 win over the visiting Hawks on Thursday. Individual set scores were 20-25, 25-19, 25-23 and 25-13.

Coach Adams cited the Trojans’ energy level and communication as major factors in the win.

“Energy for sure,” coach Adams said. “Even in the first set, we weren’t playing that well, but I thought we had good energy. We made some errors here and there and just couldn’t get it quite back. The seniors set the tone. We have two focuses: communication and to have fun. That’s what they wanted this season to be about. We remind each other of that constantly. Even when we lost the first set, the girls came over and said, ‘We want to keep talking and we want to have fun.’ I thought they really did that in the second, third and fourth sets.”

Triton coach Wendy Simmons had no comment on the Hawks’ performance.

South Johnston’s defensive effort was stellar, as the Trojans (4-2) combined for 82 digs, led by 25 from senior Kandis Adams and 15 from freshman libero Kennedy Byrd.

“Defense played well,” coach Adams said. “When somebody has a good swing and you can keep that ball alive and get it back to them, it’s almost like a statement. I thought we did a great job of, even if we didn’t get an aggressive ball back, just getting a ball back. Keep making them work for points.”

Coach Adams cited the play of junior Paige Toler, who was out with a leg injury when South played at Triton last Thursday, as a big boost for the Trojans. She had seven kills and three digs in the contest.

“I thought Paige was a spark plug for us,” coach Adams said. “I didn’t think she had the best warmup, so I was a little concerned. And she’s been injured, so she’s about a week and a half off from the rest. But she got a couple of huge points in the second set that I thought were smart plays and she’s just an energetic person, herself. She brings another level of energy. I felt like it kind of lifted us up and we had better intensity after that.”

LeeAnna Hines had a match-high nine kills, three digs and three aces on seven service points. Katon Blackmon had eight kills and 11 digs. Adams had six kills, one block and two aces on 13 service points. Savannah Hines had five kills and four digs. Byrd had one kill, one assist and one ace on 11 service points. Jenna Brown had one kill, one assist and three digs. Carmen Keene had a match-high 18 assists, six digs and one ace on five service points. Jessica Johnson had 15 assists and four digs and led all servers with three aces on 13 service points. Callie Sutton had seven digs and one ace on one service point. Carlye Durham had one dig.

Senior Hannah Jackson had seven kills and a match-high three blocks, senior Ella Layn had 16 assists, 13 digs and one ace on eight service points and sophomore libero Gracyn Slaughter had a match-high 30 digs to lead the Hawks (4-4).

Bethany Norris, who was out of town when the teams met last Thursday, had six kills, two blocks and three digs. Tyler Grace Gamblin had five kills, two assists and two digs. Addie Matthews had five kills, five digs and two aces on six service points. Layn had four kills and one block. Evie Pollard had two kills and two digs. Breighanna Hobbs had one kill, 10 digs, 13 assists and one ace on six service points. Alexis Howard had eight digs and held serve for two points. Jackson had seven digs and held serve for three points. Sarah Phillips had two digs and one ace on five service points. Slaughter held serve for four points.

Holding a 12-11 lead in the first set, Triton went on an 8-2 run to take control of the set. South cut the lead down to four, at 24-20, but Matthews ended the set with a kill, assisted by Layn.

With South holding a 7-6 lead in the second set, a Savannah Hines kill, assisted by Johnson, sparked an 8-0 run to put the Trojans in command of the set. Triton was unable to cut the lead to less than four from there.

The third set was close throughout. With the set tied 18-18, a LeeAnna Hines kill, assisted by Keene, started a 6-2 run to give the Trojans set point. Triton fought off three set points, but an error gave the Trojans the set and the 2-1 lead.

South Johnston dominated the fourth set. The Trojans opened with a 6-0 run that Triton was unable to recover from.

South Johnston also completed a season sweep in the junior varsity match with a 2-1 win.

South Johnston hosts Goldsboro on Tuesday and travels to county foe Princeton on Wednesday. South swept Princeton at home to open the season on Aug. 13.

“It’s almost like a new season,” coach Adams said. “When school starts, their lives change a lot. It’s going to be a little bit of an adjustment next week just keeping the focus and keeping the energy.”

Triton is at home against rival Midway on Monday and at home against West Johnston on Tuesday.