Spartans remain perfect
by playing together
BY RYAN LEGER
RLEGER@HENDERSONDISPASTCH.COM;
252-436-2840
Kerr-Vance’s Kassidy Dickerson, who’s committed to play volleyball at Division I High Point University
next fall, has been absolutely outstanding all season, but that’s not why the Spartans’ volleyball squad has gone 17-0 so far this year, including a 3-0 victory over visiting 1A Carolina Independent Conference foe Halifax Academy Thursday evening.
It all starts with the mindset that Spar tans’ head coach George Hoyle has instilled in his team, which is for the six girls on the court to play as one at all times. The Spartans followed the formula through
the first two sets in a tough conference matchup Thursday, winning 25-6 and 25-13 respectively.
“We win as a team and lose as a team. If we focus on individuals, we’re going to lose,” Hoyle said.
“We have to do all the little things and someone might not stand out in the kill or service ace category,
but they might be the one covering those tips and keeping the ball off the ground. And we do a good job of keeping the ball off the floor and played great defensive ball again tonight.”
The Spartans began to struggle a little in the third set as Halifax refused to go home without a fight. The set was back and forth throughout, and after several lead changes the Spartans eventually pulled away to claim a 23-15 lead. At that point, it appeared as though Kerr-Vance would close out the match with ease, but Halifax had other ideas.
The Vikings reeled off six straight points to trim the Spartans’ lead to 23-21, forcing Hoyle to call a timeout so his players could regroup. The timeout worked like a charm, as Kerr- Vance won the next two
points to earn a 25-21 victor y and close out the match.
Although they ultimately came out on top, Hoyle was a little concerned with the way his team played in the finalset. “In the first set tonight, we covered our hitters and blockers, we were talking really well
and our communication was great. We did all that well in the second set too, but in the third we stopped doing those things and got relaxed,” Hoyle said. “Sometimes when you play someone that’s maybe not as good as you are, you get a little relaxed and don’t do the little things. But we need to do all those little things right all the time. You have to be hungry all the time and if we do those things we
have the potential to go a long way.”
H o y l e ’ s s q u a d advanced to the quarterfinals of the 1A state playoffs last season and the Spartans are confident that they have the potential to do even better this fall. Even though the same players are on the court for the most part, Dickerson (3 aces, 14 digs, 9 kills) believes that this year’s team has more poise and experience, which will definitely come in handy in the postseason.
“I think we’re a much better team this year. Everybody has gotten a year older and we have a little more court presence,” Dickerson said. “Since last year was the first time being in the playoffs for some of the
girls, I think they were a little nervous. This year I think they’ll be more comfortable on the court in big games.”
The Spartans have their eyes set on a state title, but their first goal is to finish out the regular season unbeaten with five matches remaining on the schedule. Kerr-Vance is currently 9-0 in its conference
and with just one conference game left to play, a matchup at St. Thomas More Tuesday, the Spartans are a win away from finishing the year with a perfect conference record. If Kerr-Vance continues to do
all the little things right, that amazing achievement should be well within reach.
Along with Dickerson, who’s started on varsity since her freshman year, sophomore Sydney Tippett (1 ace, 3 digs, 14 kills) and freshman Emily Carr (7 kills, 1 block) have per formed brilliantly for the Spartans this season. Tippett leads the Spartans in kills this fall and nothing was differentThursday, as the Vikings just couldn’t find a way to stop the trio of hard-hitters.
S p a r t a n s ’junior Caroline Hoyle (1 ace, 2 digs, 19 assists) and s o p h o m o r e Alexis Reese
(12 assists) did a wonderful job setting up Kerr-Vance’s power hitters, while sophomore Ashley
Dickerson (5 digs, 4 kills) racked up 10 service aces on the night. Junior Bonnie Evans (3 aces, 6 digs)
and sophomores Mary Richardson (2 digs, 2 kills), Abbey Boyd (3 aces) and Kaylee Stevenson (2 kills, 1 block) also per formed well against Halifax in whatbbwas truly a team victory.
The expectations are certainly high for the Spartans, but Dickerson acknowledged that it’s not all about winning even though she’d really like to advance further than last season.
“I just want to end my last year on a positive note. We just need to keep talking and communicating with each other and continue to always be positive on the cou t,” Dickersonsaid.
“I’m alright with losing as we have was put on the court. I don’t want to leave anything
behind, especially if it ’s going to be our last game.”
Dickerson has thoroughly enjoyed being the Spar tans’ leader this fall and her experience has been
incredibly value. The senior has also done a great job teaching the younger girls and said nthat her role this fall has given her more confidence heading into college.
The Spartans will look to go undefeated in 1A Carolina Independent Conference play Tuesday night when they travel to take on St. Thomas More in their final conference matchup of the regular season.
by playing together
BY RYAN LEGER
RLEGER@HENDERSONDISPASTCH.COM;
252-436-2840
Kerr-Vance’s Kassidy Dickerson, who’s committed to play volleyball at Division I High Point University
next fall, has been absolutely outstanding all season, but that’s not why the Spartans’ volleyball squad has gone 17-0 so far this year, including a 3-0 victory over visiting 1A Carolina Independent Conference foe Halifax Academy Thursday evening.
It all starts with the mindset that Spar tans’ head coach George Hoyle has instilled in his team, which is for the six girls on the court to play as one at all times. The Spartans followed the formula through
the first two sets in a tough conference matchup Thursday, winning 25-6 and 25-13 respectively.
“We win as a team and lose as a team. If we focus on individuals, we’re going to lose,” Hoyle said.
“We have to do all the little things and someone might not stand out in the kill or service ace category,
but they might be the one covering those tips and keeping the ball off the ground. And we do a good job of keeping the ball off the floor and played great defensive ball again tonight.”
The Spartans began to struggle a little in the third set as Halifax refused to go home without a fight. The set was back and forth throughout, and after several lead changes the Spartans eventually pulled away to claim a 23-15 lead. At that point, it appeared as though Kerr-Vance would close out the match with ease, but Halifax had other ideas.
The Vikings reeled off six straight points to trim the Spartans’ lead to 23-21, forcing Hoyle to call a timeout so his players could regroup. The timeout worked like a charm, as Kerr- Vance won the next two
points to earn a 25-21 victor y and close out the match.
Although they ultimately came out on top, Hoyle was a little concerned with the way his team played in the finalset. “In the first set tonight, we covered our hitters and blockers, we were talking really well
and our communication was great. We did all that well in the second set too, but in the third we stopped doing those things and got relaxed,” Hoyle said. “Sometimes when you play someone that’s maybe not as good as you are, you get a little relaxed and don’t do the little things. But we need to do all those little things right all the time. You have to be hungry all the time and if we do those things we
have the potential to go a long way.”
H o y l e ’ s s q u a d advanced to the quarterfinals of the 1A state playoffs last season and the Spartans are confident that they have the potential to do even better this fall. Even though the same players are on the court for the most part, Dickerson (3 aces, 14 digs, 9 kills) believes that this year’s team has more poise and experience, which will definitely come in handy in the postseason.
“I think we’re a much better team this year. Everybody has gotten a year older and we have a little more court presence,” Dickerson said. “Since last year was the first time being in the playoffs for some of the
girls, I think they were a little nervous. This year I think they’ll be more comfortable on the court in big games.”
The Spartans have their eyes set on a state title, but their first goal is to finish out the regular season unbeaten with five matches remaining on the schedule. Kerr-Vance is currently 9-0 in its conference
and with just one conference game left to play, a matchup at St. Thomas More Tuesday, the Spartans are a win away from finishing the year with a perfect conference record. If Kerr-Vance continues to do
all the little things right, that amazing achievement should be well within reach.
Along with Dickerson, who’s started on varsity since her freshman year, sophomore Sydney Tippett (1 ace, 3 digs, 14 kills) and freshman Emily Carr (7 kills, 1 block) have per formed brilliantly for the Spartans this season. Tippett leads the Spartans in kills this fall and nothing was differentThursday, as the Vikings just couldn’t find a way to stop the trio of hard-hitters.
S p a r t a n s ’junior Caroline Hoyle (1 ace, 2 digs, 19 assists) and s o p h o m o r e Alexis Reese
(12 assists) did a wonderful job setting up Kerr-Vance’s power hitters, while sophomore Ashley
Dickerson (5 digs, 4 kills) racked up 10 service aces on the night. Junior Bonnie Evans (3 aces, 6 digs)
and sophomores Mary Richardson (2 digs, 2 kills), Abbey Boyd (3 aces) and Kaylee Stevenson (2 kills, 1 block) also per formed well against Halifax in whatbbwas truly a team victory.
The expectations are certainly high for the Spartans, but Dickerson acknowledged that it’s not all about winning even though she’d really like to advance further than last season.
“I just want to end my last year on a positive note. We just need to keep talking and communicating with each other and continue to always be positive on the cou t,” Dickersonsaid.
“I’m alright with losing as we have was put on the court. I don’t want to leave anything
behind, especially if it ’s going to be our last game.”
Dickerson has thoroughly enjoyed being the Spar tans’ leader this fall and her experience has been
incredibly value. The senior has also done a great job teaching the younger girls and said nthat her role this fall has given her more confidence heading into college.
The Spartans will look to go undefeated in 1A Carolina Independent Conference play Tuesday night when they travel to take on St. Thomas More in their final conference matchup of the regular season.
