By By BRIAN HAINES
Sports Writer
WILLIAMSTON — Everything was clicking for the Williamston volleyball team as it captured a three-game sweep over Four Rivers Conference rival Southside on Tuesday, winning 25-18, 25-17, 25-20.
The Tigers played near flawless volleyball as they looked solid in just about every facet of the game. Williamston got strong serving efforts from Heather Jackson and Jessie Ann Rogers, while Katie Paschal and Erin Bowen provided some punch at the net. Led by Jackson, the Tigers (11-1, 5-1) passed well as a team and did a nice job setting up their offense against a sound Seahawks squad.
“I thought we played very well as a team,” Williamston coach Herbie Rogers said. “I thought we did a good job of passing and getting into the offense. That’s what it’s all about, you have to be able to get into your offense.”
The Tigers near perfect day almost didn’t start that way as Southside rattled off a 6-1 run to start the first game. Williamston started off slow, but would get red-hot midway through the match as it tallied a game-changing 14-2 run that gave it a 15-8 lead, an advantage it would not surrender. Bowen’s play was key during that stretch as she compiled three crucial kills.
Southside showed some life when it put together back-to-back aces to cut Williamston’s lead to 17-13, but it could not keep pace with the Tigers.
In the second match, it was Williamston that got off to the fast start, as Jackson nailed four aces in a row to start the set.
The Seahawks’ Atyana Starkie, Kristen Ayers and Renikia Hodges gave their best effort to try and keep them in the game, but Southside was too inconsistent as WIlliamston rolled to a 25-17 win.
In the third game, the Seahawks put up a good fight and took an 8-6 lead when Caitlin Bogart smashed an ace. However, the Tigers responded with a 9-1 run that took the wind out Southside’s sails.
After the game Rogers said that the team effort of the Tigers was one of the best this season, and that his team is beginning to peak.
“This time of year you need to be playing well as a team,” Rogers said. “We have done enough practicing and everybody should know where they are at. It’s that time of year when you need to be clicking as a team. … We have played very well the last couple of games. You have to play well this time of year, especially in a conference game.”
One big advantage Williamston had on Tuesday was consistent, well-placed serves from all of his players.
“We were concentrating on hitting spots, and for the most part we did a good job of that,” Rogers said.