Flyers Past and Present Unite for Annual Alumni Game
The Sandhills Community College Flyers opened the 2025 volleyball season in memorable fashion Saturday, defeating a talented group of returning standouts in the annual Alumni Game, 3–1, inside The Hangar. The afternoon was about more than just the score — it was a celebration of tradition, connection, and the growth of the program.
Eighteen former Flyers returned to compete, representing nearly every era of the program:
2009- Britney Karshner Baxter (In attendance)
2015 – Courtney Grant (Speights)
2017 – Kaylee Lopez (in attendance)
2018 – Abby Wallace, Morgan McCarthy
2021 – Khaile Jones, Alexus McCrimmon, Carley Modlin
2023 – KeKe Lawrence, Lannah Huneycutt (in attendance)
2024 – Ny'Asia McKinnon, Alyssa Maragelis, Dajsha Fields
2025 – Cassidy Jewett, Jenna Luquer, Caroline Bradford, Lainey Mullins, Zoey Hall
For Head Coach Alicia Riggan, now in her 17th season, the event remains one of the highlights of the year.
"The annual alumni game is one of my favorite games. It always fills me with such pride, seeing so many former players coming back and sharing what they are doing now or bringing their family. For them to take time out of their busy schedules and come back and help out means more than they could ever imagine," Riggan said.
"Each team and each player has helped lay the foundation to what we are doing and continue to do. Our goal is to get better each year not just by wins but by building great players with character and growth, and always knowing they have a place to come home to."
Sophomore Katelyn Bunting said playing against the program's past greats gave her even more motivation for the upcoming season.
"It was awesome to have the opportunity to play people who played at Sandhills before me. Seeing how many people came and how happy they were to be there just makes me even more excited for this next season," Bunting said.
"I was especially excited to play against Carley Modlin. I look up to her as a player, and being able to go against her was the coolest thing. I was also excited to see my old teammates — it brought back so many good memories."
One of those alumni opponents, Courtney Speights (Class of 2015), remembered the same mix of excitement and nerves in her first matches as a Flyer.
"I remember feeling so nervous, but also incredibly excited to be out there playing the sport I love alongside teammates who shared the same passion," Speights said.
"The biggest change has to be the new gym. I never had the chance to play a game in it, but every time I see it, I wish I had been able to. It makes me proud to know the program has grown so much since my time on the court."
Riggan said this year's team is poised to be "big at the net" with a strong, fast style of play, and the alumni game provided the perfect tune-up for the season ahead.
"The alumni game was the start of our foundation for our fall season. We had a week of practice and we got to play against some of the best players to have played in The Hangar," she said. "Once a Flyer, always a Flyer — if they ever needed anything, we are always here for them."
The Flyers officially open their regular season August 21st at home against Guilford Tech at 7pm, but on Saturday morning, the scoreboard was only part of the story — the real win was in the hugs, handshakes, and shared memories between generations of Flyers volleyball.