Cougars roll past Trojans in sweep
Oct 13
Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer
HIGH POINT – High Point Christian fended off another tough challenge from rival Wesleyan Christian as it now shifts its focus to the playoffs.
The Cougars raced away the first set, battled to win an intense second set and completed the sweep in the third set in beating the Trojans 25-15, 32-30, 25-15 in nonconference volleyball Friday on Senior Night at HPCA.
“I was super-proud of the girls, the way that they played defense,” HPCA coach Bridget Knower said. “Our defense hasn’t looked that strong collectively as it did tonight. So, I’m really proud of them there.
“Carson and Claire always put the ball down. But we blocked better than we usually do. And Abby always plays super-well, putting the ball into people’s hands. She sets so well. So, I’m really just proud of them collectively.”
Claire Cole had 14 kills and nine digs to lead the Cougars (16-8), who finished second to Caldwell in the NCISAA Piedmont Triad 2A/3A/4A Conference. Carson Brooks added seven kills, while Hadley Coats had eight digs and three aces, and Abby Pyke had 22 assists.
HPCA, which won 3-0 against Wesleyan on Aug. 21, quickly pulled away in the first set with a 10-2 run to lead 19-9. And it was in position to win the second set fairly easily, leading 24-19. But the Trojans, keyed by Emma Gonzalez’s strong play at the net, won six straight points to get to set point themselves.
But the Cougars forced a tie at 25-25 and the teams fought to get two in a row for the next 12 points – totaling six set points (five by Wesleyan) and five ties in that span. HPCA got its first set point at 31-30 on a kill by Cole and finished off the win with an ace by Pyke.
“I thought we played really well,” said Cole, one of five seniors along with Pyke, Hannah Seamon, Coats and Hayden Hamlett. “What really helped was our energy. We really came out and played as a team. …
“I thought we really came together at the end and finished it together,” she said of the second set. “I think our defense was really good at that point, and we were able to put it down once they could get it up.”
The Cougars, who’ve been 3A state runners-up the last two years to North Raleigh Christian during its run of three straight titles, quickly jumped ahead 20-7 in the third before the Trojans rallied with eight of the next nine points to get within six. But HPCA got the final four points to complete the sweep.
Gonzalez had 16 kills to lead Wesleyan (12-9), which doesn’t have any seniors on its roster. Morgan Downs added 13 digs and two aces, while Megan Martin had 13 serve-receive passes as the Trojans, who’ve moved up to the 4A independent ranks, also aim to make a run in the playoffs.
“Second game, we came out and played better,” Wesleyan coach Kelly Castevens said. “The team came together and picked each other up, stayed motivated and stayed pumped up. They didn’t get quiet or timid – they stayed aggressive.
“We told them to stay aggressive,” she said of the final stretch of the second set. “Stay aggressive, don’t think about making an error. Just go hard and swing hard, get back there and serve hard. So, I think the pressure of it – but we just told them to stay aggressive.”
The seeding meeting for the state playoffs will be Sunday, and play will begin Tuesday and continue the next two weeks before culminating in the championship Saturday, Oct. 27.
mlindsay@hpenews.com
@HPEmichael
Oct 13
Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer
HIGH POINT – High Point Christian fended off another tough challenge from rival Wesleyan Christian as it now shifts its focus to the playoffs.
The Cougars raced away the first set, battled to win an intense second set and completed the sweep in the third set in beating the Trojans 25-15, 32-30, 25-15 in nonconference volleyball Friday on Senior Night at HPCA.
“I was super-proud of the girls, the way that they played defense,” HPCA coach Bridget Knower said. “Our defense hasn’t looked that strong collectively as it did tonight. So, I’m really proud of them there.
“Carson and Claire always put the ball down. But we blocked better than we usually do. And Abby always plays super-well, putting the ball into people’s hands. She sets so well. So, I’m really just proud of them collectively.”
Claire Cole had 14 kills and nine digs to lead the Cougars (16-8), who finished second to Caldwell in the NCISAA Piedmont Triad 2A/3A/4A Conference. Carson Brooks added seven kills, while Hadley Coats had eight digs and three aces, and Abby Pyke had 22 assists.
HPCA, which won 3-0 against Wesleyan on Aug. 21, quickly pulled away in the first set with a 10-2 run to lead 19-9. And it was in position to win the second set fairly easily, leading 24-19. But the Trojans, keyed by Emma Gonzalez’s strong play at the net, won six straight points to get to set point themselves.
But the Cougars forced a tie at 25-25 and the teams fought to get two in a row for the next 12 points – totaling six set points (five by Wesleyan) and five ties in that span. HPCA got its first set point at 31-30 on a kill by Cole and finished off the win with an ace by Pyke.
“I thought we played really well,” said Cole, one of five seniors along with Pyke, Hannah Seamon, Coats and Hayden Hamlett. “What really helped was our energy. We really came out and played as a team. …
“I thought we really came together at the end and finished it together,” she said of the second set. “I think our defense was really good at that point, and we were able to put it down once they could get it up.”
The Cougars, who’ve been 3A state runners-up the last two years to North Raleigh Christian during its run of three straight titles, quickly jumped ahead 20-7 in the third before the Trojans rallied with eight of the next nine points to get within six. But HPCA got the final four points to complete the sweep.
Gonzalez had 16 kills to lead Wesleyan (12-9), which doesn’t have any seniors on its roster. Morgan Downs added 13 digs and two aces, while Megan Martin had 13 serve-receive passes as the Trojans, who’ve moved up to the 4A independent ranks, also aim to make a run in the playoffs.
“Second game, we came out and played better,” Wesleyan coach Kelly Castevens said. “The team came together and picked each other up, stayed motivated and stayed pumped up. They didn’t get quiet or timid – they stayed aggressive.
“We told them to stay aggressive,” she said of the final stretch of the second set. “Stay aggressive, don’t think about making an error. Just go hard and swing hard, get back there and serve hard. So, I think the pressure of it – but we just told them to stay aggressive.”
The seeding meeting for the state playoffs will be Sunday, and play will begin Tuesday and continue the next two weeks before culminating in the championship Saturday, Oct. 27.
mlindsay@hpenews.com
@HPEmichael
