Ayden-Grifton wins fifth straight with sweep of C.B. Aycock
Ayden-Grifton picked up a 28-26, 25-21, 25-10 win over C.B. Aycock Monday at home for the team's fifth consecutive victory. Photo by Junious Smith III / Neuse News
AYDEN — Ayden-Grifton atoned late for a rough play early and continue to roll in non-conference play.
The Chargers defeated C.B. Aycock Monday 28-26, 25-21, 25-10 to pick up their fifth straight victory, including their fourth in straight sets. Ayden-Grifton (5-1) traveled to Pikeville Aug. 14 to face the Golden Falcons and won in four, but C.B. Aycock (4-4) seemed primed to turn the tables until the Chargers fixed their mistakes.
“We weren’t communicating, we weren’t focused and we didn’t play together early,” Aaleyah Garris said. “We had to fix our attitudes and play the way we know how.”
The first set featured 11 ties and six lead changes, with neither team garnering an advantage of more than four. Aycock started to take over later in the set, garnering an 18-15 advantage after Lydia Butler’s service ace and the Falcons eventually pushed the Chargers to the edge with a 24-20 lead.
Zion Hardy answered with a kill, followed by an Emily Dykes block to trigger four unanswered points to tie it up and Ayden-Grifton later used a Dykes kill to take a lead at 27-26. The Chargers won the set on an unforced error from Aycock on the next point.
“During that first set, I called a timeout and asked the girls ‘what did I tell you before the game,’” Ayden-Grifton coach Linda Bryant said. “We have to come out and play early because (Aycock) was going to be ready. They have a talented team and a good coach, and they knew they could win. Our assistant coach (Casey Matthis) lit into them and after that, they got to playing.”
The Falcons took a 3-1 lead into the second set, but the Chargers went on a 6-0 run — punctuated by an Alexia Bryant kill — to secure momentum. Ayden-Grifton wouldn’t trail again for the rest of the game and pushed its lead as high as 24-15. Although Aycock went on a 6-0 run, Garris’ kill would end the second set to put Ayden-Grifton ahead 2-0.
In the third set, the Chargers started on a 10-2 run, highlighted by an amazing play from Hardy. Up 8-2, Hardy fell and landed a back kick on the ball to keep the play alive and setting up Garris’ eventual kill.
“I was going over to cover and Jordan (Cannon) hit the ball,” Hardy said. “I just decided to keep going with the play.”
Aycock couldn’t garner any momentum in the third set and Ayden-Grifton closed the match out on a 10-0 run, the final point coming from a Dykes kill.
Bryant said she was proud of the team for getting the win, but slow starts can’t continue to happen.
“I’m not quite happy because there may be a time where we can’t catch up,” Bryant said. “The girls have to get the message and we can’t come out here playing like we did early.”
