Ayden-Grifton returns to east semifinals for third consecutive year
Ayden-Grifton celebrates after advancing to the east semifinals with a win over McMichael. Photo by Bud Hardy / Neuse News.
AYDEN - Tied at 23-all and just two points away from a third straight trip to the eastern semifinals, Ayden-Grifton head volleyball coach Linda Bryant burned a timeout.
She wanted that third set.
"Coach told us to bring it, this is our house, we had to pick it up, we had to win and we had to show them what it's about," said senior Aaleyah Garris.
The Chargers did.
Emily Dykes delivered her 22nd kill of the night and Abby Langemann served an ace on match point to cap Ayden-Grifton's 25-15, 25-17, 25-23 conquest of McMichael in round three of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 2-A playoffs Thursday evening.
The Chargers (20-5 overall) travel to Carrboro on Saturday.
McMichael (30-6) seized a six-point lead in the third set, only to see the Chargers slowly chip away. Dykes' off-speed shot and Garris' solo block broke a 14-14 deadlock, and pushed Ayden-Grifton in front for good, 16-14.
Dykes started to flex her muscle in the middle thanks to the Chargers' stellar back-row defensive play. The passes in system allowed sophomore setter Holly Cannon to run the offense with precision, and help the Chargers build a 23-18 cushion.
"Six-foot Emily Dykes," Bryant said of her senior middle who posted 11 kills in the decisive set.
"When you've got a Division I player, you've got to be strong. The girls look up to Emily because she's the tallest one on the team and she can put them down."
McMichael answered with a set-tying, 5-0 run.
Bryant didn't even use the full 60-second timeout.
"I was not concerned," Bryant said. "We have gotten behind before and that's one thing we talked about, never give up.”
Garris (11 digs) and fellow senior Alexia Bryant emerged as Ayden-Grifton's defensive leaders in set one. The Phoenix, co-champs of the Mid-State Conference, couldn't find any open holes in the Chargers' defense.
The two watched how their opponent turned their shoulders on swing attempts and followed the ball at the net. Ayden-Grifton got several touches on hard and off-speed shots, which frustrated McMichael.
Bryant closed out the opening set with a kill off of Cannon's assist, one of 30 during the 68-minute affair.
The Chargers dominated the net in the second set and held the Phoenix to just six kills.
"I thought we played a lot of heart," Cannon said. "We had to come together as a team, communicate, stay low on defense ... take what we practice and carry it to the game."
And push the Chargers back into the east semifinals.
