Lady Flyers Split With Wake Tech - Host Region Tournament on Friday
The Sandhills Community College beach volleyball team completed regular season play on Wednesday with a 3-2 home victory over Wake Tech.
The pairs of Lannah Huneycutt and Dajsha Fields, Mackenzie Swett and Emma Brown, and Keke Lawrence and Alexis Hinson, picked up the wins for the Lady Flyers in the second half of the double match.
Wake Tech prevailed 3-2 in the earlier match with the pairs of Swett and Fields, and Lawrence and Brown, picking up the wins for Coach Alicia Riggan's squad.
On Friday, the Lady Flyers host five other teams in the Region 10 tournament that gets underway at 8 a.m. with a match between Wake Tech and Gaston College. Riggan's squad meets Bryant and Stratton (VA) at 10 a.m.
Play continues throughout the day, culminating in the region championship match. Three of the teams will gain automatic bids to the National Championship tournament at Hickory Point Beach in Tavares, FL on April 20-22.
"I'm proud of the girls for finishing on a high note," Riggan said as darkness was creeping in following Wednesday's final set. "We have one more day of practice, we're hosting and this was a great way to go into the tournament. We just have to keep the momentum going.
"Hat's off to Wake Tech. It was a long day, an exciting day, with a lot of good volleyball and a lot of fans out here yesterday and today. It's nice to see this sport continue to grow."
Based on the regular season results, the No. 1 seed for the tournament is Richard Bland followed by Spartanburg Methodist, Bryant and Stratton, Gaston, Wake Tech and Sandhills. The Lady Flyers have played all of the teams this season. They were defeated 4-1 by Bryant and Stratton at the Flyers Invitational on March 18.
"Everybody is going to be better than the last time we saw them," Riggan said. "I'm excited for the girls and excited to host."
Wednesday's Results - Match 1: Wake Tech 3, Sandhills 2 – No. 1 Greene/Holliday (WT) def. Barlowe/Maragelis (SCC) 21-18, 21-18; No. 2 Swett/Fields (SCC) def. Falzarano/Baker (WT) 21-9, 8-21, 15-10; No. 3 Lawrence/Brown (SCC) def. Coates/Paylor (WT) 21-17, 21-17; No. 4 Tuten/Riverbank (WT) def. Ray/McKinnon (SCC) 21-19, 21-14; No. 5 Ivkovich/George (WT) def. Hinson/Ivey 21-9, 21-13.
Match 2: Sandhills 3, Wake Tech 2 – No.1 Greene/Holiday (WT) def. Barlowe/Maragelis 21-13, 21-9; No. 2 Huneycutt/Fields (SCC) def. Baker/Paylor (WT) 21-15, 22-24, 15-0; No. 3 Swett/Brown (SCC) def. Falzand/Gibbs (WT) 21-17, 21-9; No. 4 Lawrence/Hinson (SCC) def. Tuten/Riverbank (WT) 21-17, 21-18; No. 5 Ivkovich/George (WT) def. Ray/McKinnon (SCC) 21-13, 22-20.
Friday's tentative schedule (match officials will have the discretion to begin matches earlier than the time designated below where possible):
Game 1: 8 am: Wake Tech vs. Gaston
Game 2: 10 am: Sandhills vs. Bryant and Stratton
Game 3: 12 pm: Winner of Game 1 vs. Richard Bland
Game 4: 2 pm: Winner of Game 2 vs. Spartanburg Methodist
Game 5: 4 pm: Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4. (Winner is 3rd auto-bid for National Championship)
Game 6: Region Championship Game Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4. (Both teams advance to National Championship Tournament)
C. Bergmann
