Serving Spree by Jackson Helps Propel Lady Flyers Past the Cougars

Freshman L'Asia Jackson recorded a total of 12 service aces last week as the Sandhills Community College volleyball team won all three of its matches.

The defensive specialist was also credited with 26 digs and Coach Alicia Riggan nominated her for NJCAA Division III Player of the Week.

Jackson didn't get the award, but in Tuesday's home match against Central Carolina CC, she went to the service line with her team trailing 11-3 in the second set.

Five aces and nine points in a row later, the Lady Flyers led 12-11 on the way to a 25-21, 25-23 and 25-21 sweep of the Cougars.

"I just knew I had to stay focused and get my serves in, and bring my team back," she said afterward.

The Lady Flyers improved to 3-0 in Region 10 and 6-4 overall with their fourth win in a row and sixth in the last seven matches. The Cougars dropped to 0-1 and 0-8.

In a tri-match at The Hangar on Saturday, the Flyers will face two teams that defeated them earlier in the season in Johnson and Wales (7-3) at 11 a.m. and Division I USC Sumter (1-8) at 1 p.m. The latter two teams play each other at 3 p.m.

With outside hitter Lexi Allen cleared to play after injuring an ankle in the previous match, three aces in a row by Camryn Lowe helped the Flyers take a six-point lead midway through the first set. The final point came on a tip from outside hitter Maddie Harris.

The Cougars gave the home team all it could handle in the second set led by outside hitter Pogisa Thompson. Even after Jackson's serving spree, the visitors rallied to go back in front 19-15.

Tied at 23-23, Lowe assisted on a kill by KeKe Lawrence that helped pave the way for the 2-0 lead.

Jackson, a product of Pinecrest High School, is now tied for fifth place in Division III with 32 aces this season.

"L'Asia was giving it to them tonight," Riggan said. "When we're serving I want the ball in her hands. That lefty serve is just super-aggressive.

"She runs the floor very well and has that left corner locked down. She has really good ball control. She wants the ball and always seems calm."

Middle hitter Lawrence went up and down twice before putting the ball down on her third try for the first point of the third set. She and teammate Mackenzie Swett dominated in the middle and the Flyers never trailed the rest of the way.

Each was credited with seven kills and a pair of solo blocks. Libero Abby Quick was the leader in digs with eight. Lowe contributed 14 assists. The Flyers recorded 10 aces with only one service error. 

Eleven different Flyers were credited with a dig and nine with at least one kill, but overall, the Flyers' coach was not satisfied with an uneven performance by her team.

"I need to see a little more from us," Riggan said. "I felt at times we just couldn't get in a groove of what we're doing. When we go to their place we will have to be more focused.

"I'm excited to get a chance to redeem ourselves on Saturday. I think we're better now and they're both probably better too."

Allen, who leads the team in kills and is second in digs, saw action in each set, but didn't play all the way around as she usually does.

"You could tell she was favoring the ankle, but we're excited she's back," her coach said.

C. Bergmann