Lady Flyers' Sweep of Wake Tech Nets Milestone Win for Coach Riggan
The Sandhills Community College volleyball team swept Wake Tech 25-21, 25-19 and 25-21 at the Hangar on Wednesday, providing Alicia Riggan with career win No. 200 as the coach of the Lady Flyers.
Middle hitter Carley Modlin had four kills as the home team took an early 8-2 lead and trailed an Eagles' squad that came in with a record of 5-1 only very briefly after that. Modlin finished with eight kills and five solo blocks. Outside hitters Christen Clontz and Morrigan Denman each had seven kills and middle hitter Alexus McCrimmon was credited with five.
The Flyers (5-6) take a three-match winning streak, all sweeps against higher division competition, into Saturday's Camp Day double match at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. against Pitt Community College (4-1).
According to Clontz, the team was aware of the potential milestone occasion for their coach.
"I think the whole team was motivated to get it done, especially in three sets," she said afterward . "We were ready, we were calm and we were prepared. We were going to get in there and get it done."
In addition to the early physicality by Modlin, six service errors in the first set made things even tougher for the Eagles.
"Carley was on fire at the net and it trickled down to the rest of the girls," Riggan said. "It was like she was a blocking machine. I just think she kind of caught the other team by surprise. She really pumped the girls up and excited the fans as well."
Setters Adison Campbell and Camryn Lowe helped get outside hitters Clontz and Morrigan Denman into the act in the second set that ended on a pair of wins at the net by Modlin. Trailing 23-15 in the third, the Eagles rallied, but came up short.
In her 11th season at Sandhills, Riggan is 200-91 with four Region X titles and five Region X Coach of the Year awards.
"It feels awesome," the North Moore and UNC-Pembroke graduate said of the win and the milestone. "I knew coming in this was going to be a tough match. They were returning a really awesome setter and they were going to be kind of big like us inside.
"I thought we were really consistent from set to set which is something we've been wanting to see."
Other statistical leaders for the Flyers were Campbell with 20 assists and libero Willow Williams with eight digs.
At the end of the match, Athletic Director Mike Apple presented Riggan with a plaque to recognize her accomplishment.
"It's just an incredible program Alicia has put together," he said later. "There is no facet of the game that is untouched by what she and her staff do. She's a real good recruiter and real good fundamental coach. Her fingerprint is all over the program."
As a part of Faculty and Staff Night, each Lady Flyer was introduced before the match with a staff member.
C. Bergmann
