Triton’s Evie Pollard (2) elevates for a kill on Tuesday.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Triton overcame some initial struggles to hand visiting Southern Lee a 3-1 loss to start Tri-County Six 3-A Conference volleyball play Tuesday. Individual set scores were 24-26, 25-23, 25-17 and 25-14.
“I was wondering where they were the first set,” said Triton coach Wendy Simmons. “You’ve still got to come out here and play the top of your game no matter who you’re playing. I talked to them out in the hallway (before the game) about coming out here and, ‘Make good serves, have good passes, set the ball up and hit the ball hard.’ They just didn’t come out that way. But they pulled it together and it’s a win. Being 2-0 this week is pretty good. We hadn’t done that yet, so we’re going to enjoy it.”
Senior Ella Layn had a match-high 12 kills, one block, 10 digs and two aces on seven service points to lead the Hawks (6-7, 1-0 TCSC).
“She struggled at first and then I switched her and Addie (Matthews) just to see if maybe that would make a little difference,” Simmons said. “She’s got a lot of power and she hasn’t been hitting most of the season (Layn was the primary setter to start the season), so for her to be doing as well as she is now, I’m very proud of her. Hopefully she’s only going to get better.”
Evie Pollard, with nine kills, Hannah Jackson, with eight kills and two blocks, and Addie Matthews, with eight kills, also had strong performances at the net for Triton.
“That’s what we’re kind of used to,” Simmons said. “We’re not used to it just kind of being one person. I told them, ‘We’ve got to be able to spread it out. Spread the wealth. Everybody’s got to be able to contribute and you’ve got the ability to do that.’ I was glad to see it.”
In addition to continuing her emergence at the setter position, with a match-high 27 assists, junior Breighanna Hobbs also shined at the service line Tuesday, leading all servers with nine aces on 24 service points.
“She probably could have served it out (to end the match in the fourth set),” Simmons said. “I got a little mad at one of my coaches telling her to jump serve. She’s working on it, but when you’re in the zone and serving like she was, don’t change it. But she did a very good job serving.”
Tyler Grace Gamblin had three kills, 12 assists, eight digs and two aces on two service points. Hobbs had two kills and eight digs. Gracyn Slaughter had one kill, 11 digs and two aces on 10 service points. Alexis Howard had 10 digs and one ace on four service points. Pollard had five digs. Jackson had three digs and two aces on five service points. Matthews had two digs and two aces on two service points. Sarah Pope had two aces on three service points.
Junior Lily Bonner had five kills, 19 assists, one block and three aces on 12 service points and senior Kate Lawrence had five kills to lead the Cavaliers (6-3, 0-1 TCSC).
Triton held a 23-18 lead late in the first set, but the Cavaliers took advantage of several Triton errors to rally with an 8-1 run to take the set.
The second set was close throughout, but with the score tied at 23, Layn finished the set for the Hawks with a kill, assisted by Hobbs, followed by an ace.
A hot start was key for Triton in the third set, as the Hawks opened with a 5-0 run, including two Jackson aces and two Pollard kills, and the Hawks never trailed in the set.
Southern Lee suffered a big loss early in the fourth set when Lawrence, the Cavs leading hitter at the time, hit the floor trying to keep a ball in play and struck her head. She had to be aided off the court and was out for the remainder of the match.
Holding a 14-12 lead, Triton finished the match strong with an 11-2 run, capped by a match-ending Gamblin kill, assisted by Hobbs.
Triton also won the junior varsity match 2-0.
Triton was slated to play at conference foe Union Pines Wednesday, but that match has been postponed because all after school activities for Harnett County have been suspended due to the threat of Hurricane Florence.
When the Hawks will be able to return to action will be determined by the extent of the storm’s damage and when Harnett County Schools are able to resume classes. Triton is currently scheduled to travel to nonconference opponent West Johnston on Monday before hosting conference and county rival Western Harnett on Tuesday.
“I told them they can do things at home,” Simmons said. “They can do a lot of the things that we do in the gym at home to stay in shape. If they’ve got stairs, they can run up and down the stairs and things like that. I told my setters they can get a ball and set against the wall at home. So hopefully they won’t just be laying around the house, but trying to do something active. Other than that, hopefully we’ll get to practice before we have to play again and try to get as much in as we can that first day.”
Hannah Jackson puts away a point for the Hawks.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Gracyn Slaughter makes a dig for Triton against Southern Lee.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Breighanna Hobbs (12) serves in Triton’s league opener.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Addie Matthews hits for the Hawks in a win over Southern Lee.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
