Sep 30

Sep 30 Ayden-Grifton wins match against 3A Greenville Rose

Ayden-Grifton’s Holly Cannon tries to deflect the ball toward a teammate in Monday’s game against Greenville Rose. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News

By Junious Smith III

AYDEN — Ayden-Grifton was going to get at least one win against a team with a higher classification.

The Chargers defeated Greenville Rose 25-18, 9-25, 25-21, 25-19 Monday in a nonconference game rescheduled due to Hurricane Dorian. Ayden-Grifton (11-4) was 0-4 against teams above the NCHSAA 2A rank before knocking off the 3A Rampants (10-6).

“This is all we talked about, beating a 3A/4A team,” Ayden-Grifton coach Linda Bryant said. “We tried South Central (and) failed, we tried Conley (and) failed, and I told them I know we could beat Rose. I don’t know when I have beaten a 3A/4A team — probably over 10 years.”

Kills from Emily Dykes and Aale’Yah Garris helped the Chargers get off to an 8-3 start, but the Rampants battled back to tie the game at 11. Ayden-Grifton scored the next three points, never letting Greenville Rose get within two, aided by a pair of Alexia Bryant kills, along with a Garris kill and Dykes block.

The Rampants exploded in the second set, as two Mary Hannah Sawyer aces and a Sydney Boyer kill was part of an 8-1 start. The Chargers got within 11-7 after Bryant’s kill, but Forbes Hall’s ace was part of a 9-0 run to keep Greenville Rose ahead comfortably. The Rampants ended the set with Anna Bayes’ ace to tie the match at 1.

The third set had six ties and two lead changes in the first 18 points. Dykes’ kill opened up a 5-1 run, highlighted by Abby Langemann’s ace to help the Chargers sustain their lead. The Rampants got within 20-19, but the Chargers scored the next four points, including a pair of Holly Cannon aces, to effectively put the set away.

“In the second set, we didn’t play to our ability,” Dykes said. “We realized that, made adjustments and came back.”

The fourth set had five ties and three lead changes over the first 18 points. Again, the score was tied at 9, but Langemann’s kill started a 6-0 spurt for the Chargers the Rampants would never recover from.

“We definitely had to work together in this one,” Garris said. “We had to show a lot of effort, stick together and communicate. Beating a 3A school means a lot because it shows how good we can be, especially against a great opponent.”

The Chargers face West Craven on the road Thursday in EC2A conference play and have a rematch against the Rampants Oct. 9 in Greenville.