VOLLEYBALL: Golden Falcons sweep Warriors

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 19, 2016 12:22 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock did it all Tuesday afternoon -- controlled the tempo, relentlessly attacked from all areas of the court, played defense and stayed focused on each point.

The result?

A three-set sweep -- 25-16, 25-7, 25-11 -- over county and Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference volleyball rival Eastern Wayne.

"We played with a lot more intensity," Golden Falcons junior Arlanda Faulkner said. "We didn't get mad at each other over simple mistakes or when we missed a serve. We kept the intensity high the whole game.

"I just think that tonight was our night. We definitely came out here to play."

Indeed.

Unlike their previous meeting, Faulkner and front-line mates -- Cyerra Carter, "Mookie" Powell and Daelyn Brock -- received on-point sets from Hannah Carter. Aycock's back row consistently dug up balls and delivered crisp passes to Carter, who doled out 25 assists among just four hitters.

Faulkner, who wasn't a factor in the previous meeting against the Warriors, cranked out a team- and match-high 19 kills. Brock added eight kills. The Golden Falcons finished with a 36-7 advantage in total team kills.

"Definitely our passes were on point today, which helped us get a better set and I was able to set much quicker for them to hit quicker because the block wasn't ready," said Carter, who has dished out 549 assists this season.

Eastern Wayne never got into its offensive system.

The Warriors entered the game with an eye-catching .388 hitting percentage, but manufactured just offensive points in the opening set on kills from Emily Newsome and middle hitter Alyssa Jackson. The duo combined for six kills during the three-set affair.

Jackson also logged two solo blocks.

Unforced errors, constant transition balls, the inability to adjust to the Golden Falcons' short service game and lack of communication compounded EW's troubles on the court.

Meanwhile, Aycock's covered the court and didn't let a ball drop. Ironically, defense -- led by senior libero Jennifer Sparks -- has been the main staple for the Warriors this season.

"Everything that we weren't strong at (tonight), they were 200 percent stronger," said Warriors head coach Anna Hajjar, whose team committed 14 attack errors and 29 miscues overall.

"I still believe we are the better team, but Aycock wanted it so much more. When they're on, they're on. What I feel like it is for them and it's not for us, is that they're so hungry for it. Aycock deserved it tonight."

Hunter Tillman capped the opening set with an ace. Powell's ace and an unforced error pushed Aycock to the second-set win. Consecutive overpass kills from Powell and Faulkner closed out the third set and match.

The Golden Falcons (15-5 overall, 4-5 ECC) travel to South Central today, and with a win can clinch the No. 1 playoff seed from the 3-A portion of the league. The Warriors (13-7, 3-7) return home today for senior night against Southern Wayne.