Cape volleyball digs up two wins over Central and Sanford
Cape volleyball added two more Ws to its record with a 3-2 win over Sussex Central on Sept. 27 and a 3-0 victory over Sanford on Sept. 29.
The Vikings fell behind early with a 25-16 first-set defeat against a vastly improved Sussex Central team, but they bounced back in the second 25-21. The Knights’ Brenya Reid put on the kill pressure, and mistakes by the Vikings let Central take the third 25-21.
Cape’s front line of Mikiyah Ennals, Katie Knarr, Jocelyn Leach, Rileigh Wilson, Erin Morrissey, and Breahna Kusen took sets from Abbey Derrickson and Teaghan Van Brunt, and came alive with put-aways to boost the home team to a fourth set 25-16 and a fifth set 15-9 victory.
Derrickson led the Vikings with 25 assists from her setter position and eight aces. Van Brunt added 11 assists. Ennals made 10 successful kills, while teammate Wilson knocked down seven. Knarr and Morrissey each had six, and Leach added five. Emily Lamb recorded 10 digs.
“I think we’re extremely lucky to be walking out with a win versus Sussex Central,” said Cape coach Tyler Coupe. “From the jump we were unfortunately plagued by errors, whether it be serve-receive, attacking errors or defensive lapses. That isn’t to take away from Central; they served us very aggressively and have improved from last year tremendously. They’re young and athletic and will be trouble for the next several years. However, I do expect more focus and poise from us as a unit.”
Reid led the Knights with eight kills and six digs. Katelyn Evick scored nine digs. Madelynn McTeer had seven assists and five digs. Freshman Makenna Messina added six assists and five aces, while Amaya Harris tallied six aces.
Sanford came to the Cape gymnasium Sept. 29 and was greeted by a balanced Vikings attack. Cape wasn’t the best of hosts, as the Vikings handed the Warriors a 25-20, 25-10 and 25-12 loss.
Derrickson continued to perform from the setter position and service line with 14 assists and two aces. Senior Mackenzie Parker led the Vikings from the service line with five aces. Ennals scored five kills, while Lamb picked up 10 digs.
“We bounced back very nicely against Sanford,” said Coupe. “Our first set we were pretty flat and uninspired. Thankfully, during sets two and three, we eliminated our errors and came back strong and took it to them. We served very aggressively and both our setters did a great job distributing the ball across all three positions at the net.”
After playing six matches in 12 days, the Vikings coach is looking forward to some time to rest his players.
“I know our girls are tired, and I’m proud of them for staying focused and determined in finishing out this stretch,” he said. “We have some time off this coming week in regard to match play, so we’re going to mix in some different ideas and plans to give the girls a break while also still challenging them.”
The Vikings return to the hardwood Tuesday, Oct. 9, when they travel to Woodbridge.
