Wakefield volleyball
With Thursday's 3-0 victory over Sanderson, sophomore Kylie Sicking and the Wakefield volleyball team recored its fourth straight-set win. The Lady Wolverines are 16-0 this season.
Wakefield volleyball notches 16th-straight win Thursday
Few people would blame the Wakefield volleyball team if complacency set in.
The Lady Wolverines have been on a tear since the beginning of the season, winning their first 16 games, including Thursday's 3-0 win (25-18, 25-21, 25-9) over Sanderson.
And the matches haven't been that close as Wakefield has recorded straight-set wins in seven of its last eight games.
But the unbeaten squad hasn't lost its concentration — and with a Cap-7 Conference title in sight — the Lady Wolverines aren't willing to give up a single set — let alone an actual contest.
Following Thursday's win over the Spartans, junior Catherine Coston commended her teammates' persistent effort.
Highlights of Wakefield's win over Sanderson Oct 1.
"This team is amazing because we're all out there fighting because we want to win every game," she said.
One of the biggest improvements for Wakefield this season is the squad's ability to overcome adversity, Coston added.
"I think we are good at if we get down, we have that push to comeback," the junior explained. "We don't let it bother us. Last year, we didn't have that. This year, we just push forward. We are out to fight. We want every game so bad. We are not taking anything fore-granted."
Much of the Lady Wolverines' success can be credited to the team's outstanding sophomore class, which includes Elizabeth Campbell, Grace Cho, Bryn and Cally Pfeiffer and Kylie Sicking.
"They have really stepped up their play for us," Coston said.
Cho, the team's libero, recorded eight digs in Thursday's win. Cally Pfeiffer and Sicking added 15 and eight assists, respectively. Sicking also served six aces. Campbell recorded nine kills.
The five 10th-graders have effectively filled the roles around Wakefield senior leader Katie Slay, who recorded 12 kills, six digs and three aces against Sanderson.
Entering the season, Coston said she felt the Lady Wolverines had the talent to succeed, but didn't predict their undefeated start.
"I honestly didn't expect this. I knew we were going to be good, and have a chance to go a long way, but this is unexpected," she said. "But we're really working together and it's turning out well."
The Lady Wolverines' success has given them a target, meaning their final four conference matches won't be a cakewalk.
Wakefield's final two contests are especially tough with Wake Forest-Rolesville — which pushed the Lady Wolverines to five sets Sept. 17 — and one-loss Enloe on the slate.
"Everyone knows that we're undefeated, and everyone's out to beat us now," Coston said. "It comes up a lot."
But the junior admitted to be looking forward to the challenges.
"Playing Wake Forest and Broughton should be fun because they are out to get us," she said. "They are always our rivals, and having us undefeated only makes it better."
The Lady Wolverines return to action at Millbrook Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 6 p.m. Two days later Wakefield hosts Leesville Road. Sanderson visits Middle Creek in a non-conference contest Monday, Oct. 5.
