Lady Flyers Annual Alumni Match - Competitive and Entertaining
The 2023 Sandhills Community College volleyball team saw its first game action on Saturday in the annual alumni match held at The Hangar, and a good time appeared to be had by all.
"I just absolutely love playing volleyball," said Brittney Karshner Baxter who was a member of the first two Lady Flyer teams in 2008 and 2009. "Just being here makes me relive things about college."
Baxter was one of a dozen former players who made up the alumni squad that included seven that participated in last year's exciting five-set match won by the alums. This time the two teams played five sets. The alums won the first one 25-16 before Coach Alicia Riggan's current squad bounced back to take the next four.
The Lady Flyers entertain St. Andrews University in another preseason match at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. They open the regular season at home on Friday with a doubleheader against Cleveland CC of Shelby, NC at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Setters Lannah Huneycutt and Alexis Hinson, defensive specialist Alyssa Maragelis, outside hitter Dajsha Fields and middle hitter Ny'asia McKinnon are the returnees from last year's Region 10 regular season and conference tournament championship team that finished ninth at the national tournament.
Lady Flyers Overcome Early Jitters
Riggan used five different lineups against her former players, while working in the 12 newcomers to the team.
"This was the biggest crowd we've had for our alumni game," the coach said afterward. "For some of our girls, it's their first experience of this and it can be overwhelming. We've got 12 new girls and they're trying to catch their breath.
"Some are playing different positions, the music and the fans are loud and there was maybe some self-doubting. I think it took that first set for them to really relax."
Outside hitter Caroline Bradford, one of three freshmen that played for Pinecrest High School, recorded two kills, helping the Lady Flyers overcame a 23-22 deficit to win the second set 25-23.
Playing for the alums was Carley Modlin, a two-time NJCAA All-American middle blocker for the Lady Flyers, who went on to play at UNC-Asheville and recently earned her four-year degree at Appalachian State. She is serving as a volunteer coach for Riggan this season and plans to enter dental school next year.
"I came late to preseason and I've been working with the middles a lot and it's super fun," she said. "All of them seem to be coachable."
Sophomore Ny'asia McKinnon and freshman Cassidy Jewett (Southside Christian) began making their presence felt in the middle as the tide began to turn in the Lady Flyers' favor. Fields, who was second on the team in kills last season, displayed the confidence gained from competing in region, district and national tournament matches.
"This year I've really tried to step up in my leadership and be a better player all-around," the product of Fairmont High School said. "Whether I'm in the game or out I want to be a better teammate so I can pick my teammates up and help us get to the national tournament like we did last year."
One of the players counted on to fill the shoes of graduated libero/defensive specialists L'Asia Jackson and Abby Quick, is Lainey Mullins, another one of the freshmen from Pinecrest along with Bradford and setter Sydney Garner.
"It made the transition a lot easier," Mullins said of the familiarity factor. "It's been a big accomplishment to get through the preseason and I feel really grateful to be playing volleyball again."
Overall, a Great Day
Brittney Karshner Baxter led the Lady Flyers in digs in 2009 as a sophomore when Riggan became the head coach and won the first of her 275 matches at Sandhills.
"My best memory, hands down, is Alicia, becoming the head coach," she said. "She's the best thing that happened to the volleyball program."
Sitting in the front row, Baxter's three children appeared to be among those having the best time.
"My cheerleaders are over there," she said, pointing to them.
In addition to Baxter and Modlin, the other Flyer alums participating in the game were Quick (2022), Camryn Lowe (2021), Alexis McCrimmon and Khaile Jones (2020), Abby Wallace, Tee'Ashia Lilly and Rachael Mashburn (2018), Tiffany Hicks and Courtney Grant (2015) and Peyton Wood (2014).
"It was special having 12 of the girls come back." Riggan said. "It was exciting as a coach to see the team down in the 20's in two of the sets and coming back and winning. Overall it was a great day."
C. Bergmann