Flyers Gain Confidence and Chemistry in Final Preseason Test

The Sandhills Community College Flyers wrapped up their preseason Saturday with a competitive scrimmage against Cape Fear Community College and Wake Tech in Wilmington, NC. The tri-match served as the final tune-up before the Flyers' home opener Thursday night against Guilford Technical Community College at 7 p.m. in The Hangar. The opener also marks Student Night, with free pizza for those who RSVP through Student Life.

Head Coach Alicia Riggan was encouraged by the progress her team showed from the previous week."From last week's scrimmage to this week, we looked a lot more confident," Riggan said. "People are playing in positions where they feel comfortable, which allows them to be more aggressive. Some of the things we've been working on this past week were executed today."

The Flyers faced two strong opponents, which Riggan sees as invaluable preparation for the regular season."Any opportunity you can get to play another team that is high-level competitive is only going to make the team better," she said.

Beyond execution, Riggan praised the energy and support shown on and off the court."From the sideline to the court, the energy was high," she said. "The excitement was contagious, and the girls are being super supportive of each other. Very exciting to see early in the season."

For sophomore Katelyn Bunting, the scrimmage offered a chance to see their training translate to real competition."It was really interesting to see how what we had been working on was actually playing out," Bunting said. "Seeing everyone in their zone made me realize that we are a team that wants to win."

Sophomore Jacque Holden echoed that competitive spirit, pointing out how the team responded when plays didn't go their way."The team really came together today when it mattered and found ways to score when things weren't working out," Holden said. "There was never a point when there was no fight on the court."

Freshman Averi Cuddeback said the team's communication stood out during the scrimmage."We were more vocal when it came down to running different plays and out-of-system balls," Cuddeback said. "One of our strengths was making sure to celebrate after every point. If something went wrong, we talked about it and knew what to change for the next play."

For fellow freshman Olivia Rosy, the biggest takeaway was how the team handled adversity."It's really nice that everyone keeps a positive attitude even when it gets tough," Rosy said. "We did a great job blocking today—it was a wall up there—and everyone worked together. Our intense practices have really paid off."

Rosy added that the team's endurance and chemistry are already strong, making the weekend both productive and fun.

The Flyers return home Thursday, August 21, for their season opener against Guilford Technical Community College at 7 p.m. in The Hangar. It's Student Night- all Sandhills students who are currently enrolled and with their student I.D. will get free pizza.