Flyers Sweep Scrimmage Double Header
The Sandhills Community College Flyers wrapped up their preseason action on Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 victory over the St. Andrews University Knights and a 2-1 win against the Cape Fear Community College Sea Devils. Both scrimmages took place inside The Hangar on the Sandhills campus.
The Flyers dominated the Knights with set scores of 21-11, 21-5, and 21-10 before edging out the Sea Devils with scores of 25-20, 22-25, and 15-11.
Game 1: Flyers vs. St. Andrews University
In the first match against St. Andrews, the Flyers overcame a sluggish start. Trailing 4-3, they shifted the momentum with a series of kills, transforming the deficit into a 10-5 lead. The Flyers then maintained their rhythm and closed out the first set with a convincing win.
"We started out slow, but then I felt like we got into a rhythm," said Flyers head coach Alicia Riggan. "Coming off 11 days of preseason and with this being our second and third scrimmages today, I think the girls are just getting used to each other. Everyone got to play, and it's just about feeling more comfortable with each other in a faster-paced game than what we're used to in practice."
The Flyers kept their foot on the gas in the second set, setting the tone early and holding the Knights to just five points. The momentum carried into the third set, where the Flyers rallied from a back-and-forth start to secure the win.
Kristin Dodds and Caroline Bradford led the offense with six kills each. Lainey Mullins anchored the defense with six digs, while Jenna Luquer added four digs. Zoey Hall led the team with 14 assists. Katelyn Bunting and Anyssia Mains each contributed a block, and the Flyers recorded eight service aces.
Game 2: Flyers vs. Cape Fear Community College
The second match of the day against Cape Fear was a tightly contested battle from start to finish. Both teams traded points early, but the Flyers seized momentum with a 5-1 run. The Sea Devils fought back, cutting Sandhills' lead to 22-17, but the Flyers held on to take the first set.
"The pace was intense, and I felt like I had to use my timeouts effectively," Riggan said. "Sometimes they closed the gap, but we saw really good blocking and scrappiness from the other team. Balls that we normally get down, they were getting right back up. We had to work twice as hard."
Riggan continued, "I think they're going to be really good in their region, and it was good for our girls to face that challenge early on before we open the season on Thursday."
The second set was another back-and-forth affair, with Cape Fear gaining momentum late to tie the score at 18-18. The Sea Devils used that momentum to close out the set, forcing a decisive third set. In the final set, the Flyers took an early lead and held off Cape Fear to secure the victory.
"Pick it up—unforced errors, not hitting the ball over the net, missing the serve, getting sucked in from the corners," Riggan said, reflecting on the team's performance. "It was the first time all day that they took a step back, but I never felt like the team gave up. The energy on the court and the sidelines has been awesome."
Mariana Clayton led the way with four aces, contributing to a team total of six in the win over Cape Fear. Bradford excelled with a 12-kill performance, while Hall added 12 assists and eight digs. Clayton and Bradford each recorded 11 digs, and Bunting was strong on defense with three blocks.
Looking Ahead
The Flyers now turn their focus to the regular season, which kicks off on Thursday at 6 p.m. with a home match against Guilford Technical Community College. It will also be Student Night at Sandhills.
Z. Ciboth