Nov 2

Nov 2 Ayden-Grifton charges from behind, upends Carrboro in five sets in East 2-A semifinals

Ayden-Grifton gets ready to break the huddle before the opening set against Carrboro on Saturday afternoon. Rudy Coggins/NeuseNews

CARRBORO - Ayden-Grifton is now on the "revenge" tour.

Emily Dykes cranked out a team- and match-high 24 kills during the Chargers' come-from-behind 25-22, 13-25, 19-25, 25-23, 15-10 triumph over Carrboro on Saturday afternoon.

The Chargers avenged a season-ending loss to the Jaguars in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2-A east semifinals two years ago.

Wheatmore is next.

It's a rematch of last year's fourth-round contest where Ayden-Grifton squandered a two-set lead and endured a season-ending defeat on its home court. The teams meet Tuesday in Trinity. A game time has not been determined.

"They played awesome, magnificent," AG head coach Linda Bryant said. "Of course, there were a couple of times where we just lost our focus, could not pass, could not feed Emily the ball ... all we have to do is feed Emily.

"That's been our goal all year. If we pass and set the ball, Emily is going to put it away."

Dykes pounded out seven kills in the opening set, but managed just eight total in the second and third sets combined.

Mid-state champ Carrboro changed its serving tactics and knocked third-seeded Ayden-Grifton (21-5 overall) out of its offensive system. Setter Holly Cannon (41 assists) touched the ball first on several occasions and that eventually led to easy transition balls for the second-seeded Jaguars.

Carrboro collected 15 kills, served nine aces and benefited from 19 AG unforced errors during that stretch.

"I think we were in our own heads," Dykes said. "After we got out of our heads and got the lead, we got a winning mentality."

The teams battled through 12 ties and seven lead changes in the fourth set.

Becca Gwynne's kill on an overpass gave the Jaguars a 23-22 lead. The Chargers responded with a set-clinching 3-0 run - an Aaleyah Garris kill and two consecutive attack errors by Carrboro.

Ayden-Grifton reeled off four of the first five points in the decisive fifth set. Carrboro tied it at 10-all before Garris started the match-ending rally with a kill off of a Jaguars' double block.

Dykes logged a solo block sandwiched between two monster kills to give Ayden-Grifton match point at 14-10. Carrboro's final attack sailed past the end line to cap the Chargers' heart-stopping road comeback.

"In the fifth set, we said 'hey girls, don't give up,'" Bryant said. "All we have to do is believe in yourself, you've still got this. All we have to do is focus on what we need to focus on, which is our pass. Once we do that, we'll win today.

"And that's what happened."

Dykes finished with 24 kills, eight digs and five solo blocks. Garris and Lexi Bryant contributed nine kills and 16 digs apiece. Abby Langemann emerged as the defensive leader with 21 digs.

The Chargers had 85 digs, 49 kills and 46 unforced errors as a team.