HP Christian defeats Wesleyan
HIGH POINT – High Point Christian started a little slow but quickly got things rolling.
The Cougars rallied from a first-set loss to lead by double digits in each of the final three sets to beat crosstown rival Wesleyan Christian 21-25, 25-13, 25-18, 25-15 in both teams’ NCISAA volleyball season-opener Monday evening at HPCA.
“Overall, I think we were good – very consistent,” HPCA coach Bridget Knower said. “And I think our defense rocked it today. Our blocking is like we haven’t been in years – maybe the strongest blocking team since I’ve been here. So, that’s a tremendous help. Our serves I thought were very strong. And our offense – we had a lot of good offense.
“We still need some work, but I’m super happy with them. … We have been talking as a team about how we are capable of great accomplishments. But it needs to come every day. You just can’t show up in the playoffs and expect to be the team you should be. It’s going to come every day in practice and in matches.”
Kennedy Powell had 15 kills and 12 digs to lead the Cougars (1-0), who return eight players from last year’s team that reached the 3A quarterfinals on its 12-player roster. Emeline Martin followed with eight kills and five aces.
Caroline Smith tallied 34 assists, while Rosie Langendorfer had 14 digs and Carson Brooks added 10 digs as HPCA used runs of 12-3 and 7-1 to lead 19-9 in the second set, a 12-2 run to lead 18-8 in the third set, and a 10-2 run to close out the match.
“We were very consistent,” said Langendorfer, a libero and the team’s lone senior. “Our offense and defense were on point. I felt like we started off a little slow. But once we got to the second set and warmed up, then we got everything back normal.
“Oh, I think we’re going to go far,” she said of the team’s potential this year. “I know we’re going to go far,” she added with a smile.
Wesleyan (0-1), which has three players back from last year’s 4A quarterfinals team on its 10-player roster, surged back into the first set with a 6-1 run to lead 16-15 and scored six of the final eight points in the set to lead the match early.
But the Trojans – who were led by the strong play of Morgan Downs (13 kills, five aces), Ava Brown (21 assists) and Anna Royster – couldn’t quite keep pace as the experienced Cougars started to gain momentum.
“It was a good first game,” Wesleyan coach Kelly Castevens said. “We came out aggressive. We came out serving aggressive, swinging aggressive, our passes were there. Second set, they came out swinging more, and their serves were good. We were a little shaky on serve-receive and defense. We have pretty new defenders back there, so it’s just working on technical stuff with them.
“It’s figuring out each other, and the nerves of playing that first game – it’s hard,” she said, describing how much of the early season is learning. “In practice, others will step up. I just didn’t see it here. But if we get our passes there, then we definitely have some good weapons on the outside. Our middles, which we didn’t utilize today, do well with placing it. So, if we just fix the small things, I think we can have a pretty good record.”
Both teams play again today. High Point Christian opens PTAC 2A/3A/4A play at 5 p.m. at Westchester Country Day, while Wesleyan, a 4A independent, plays at 5:30 at Caldwell.
mlindsay@hpenews.com
336-888-3526
@HPEmichael
HIGH POINT – High Point Christian started a little slow but quickly got things rolling.
The Cougars rallied from a first-set loss to lead by double digits in each of the final three sets to beat crosstown rival Wesleyan Christian 21-25, 25-13, 25-18, 25-15 in both teams’ NCISAA volleyball season-opener Monday evening at HPCA.
“Overall, I think we were good – very consistent,” HPCA coach Bridget Knower said. “And I think our defense rocked it today. Our blocking is like we haven’t been in years – maybe the strongest blocking team since I’ve been here. So, that’s a tremendous help. Our serves I thought were very strong. And our offense – we had a lot of good offense.
“We still need some work, but I’m super happy with them. … We have been talking as a team about how we are capable of great accomplishments. But it needs to come every day. You just can’t show up in the playoffs and expect to be the team you should be. It’s going to come every day in practice and in matches.”
Kennedy Powell had 15 kills and 12 digs to lead the Cougars (1-0), who return eight players from last year’s team that reached the 3A quarterfinals on its 12-player roster. Emeline Martin followed with eight kills and five aces.
Caroline Smith tallied 34 assists, while Rosie Langendorfer had 14 digs and Carson Brooks added 10 digs as HPCA used runs of 12-3 and 7-1 to lead 19-9 in the second set, a 12-2 run to lead 18-8 in the third set, and a 10-2 run to close out the match.
“We were very consistent,” said Langendorfer, a libero and the team’s lone senior. “Our offense and defense were on point. I felt like we started off a little slow. But once we got to the second set and warmed up, then we got everything back normal.
“Oh, I think we’re going to go far,” she said of the team’s potential this year. “I know we’re going to go far,” she added with a smile.
Wesleyan (0-1), which has three players back from last year’s 4A quarterfinals team on its 10-player roster, surged back into the first set with a 6-1 run to lead 16-15 and scored six of the final eight points in the set to lead the match early.
But the Trojans – who were led by the strong play of Morgan Downs (13 kills, five aces), Ava Brown (21 assists) and Anna Royster – couldn’t quite keep pace as the experienced Cougars started to gain momentum.
“It was a good first game,” Wesleyan coach Kelly Castevens said. “We came out aggressive. We came out serving aggressive, swinging aggressive, our passes were there. Second set, they came out swinging more, and their serves were good. We were a little shaky on serve-receive and defense. We have pretty new defenders back there, so it’s just working on technical stuff with them.
“It’s figuring out each other, and the nerves of playing that first game – it’s hard,” she said, describing how much of the early season is learning. “In practice, others will step up. I just didn’t see it here. But if we get our passes there, then we definitely have some good weapons on the outside. Our middles, which we didn’t utilize today, do well with placing it. So, if we just fix the small things, I think we can have a pretty good record.”
Both teams play again today. High Point Christian opens PTAC 2A/3A/4A play at 5 p.m. at Westchester Country Day, while Wesleyan, a 4A independent, plays at 5:30 at Caldwell.
mlindsay@hpenews.com
336-888-3526
@HPEmichael
