Wakefield volleyball
Sophomore Bryn Pfeiffer (4) makes a play in the first set of the Lady Wolverines' 3-0 win over Middle Creek Saturday. Wakefield advances to face Durham Jordan Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Wakefield volleyball muscles past Mustangs in first-round match-up
Lady Wolverines host Durham Jordan Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Motioning with her hands — her fingers making a little mouth — Wakefield volleyball coach Cynthia Terrell implored her Lady Wolverines to communicate following a missed dig during the third set of Saturday afternoon's first-round state playoff matinee with Middle Creek.
Although Wakefield jumped out to a two-set lead, the Mustangs wouldn't succumb easily in the final third set. And the Lady Wolverines weren't helping themselves by staying silent.
"Our communication wasn't great," Terrell said later. "I don't know if it was the time of day. I don't know if it was because it's the state playoffs, I really don't know. But we weren't talking."
At that moment, Middle Creek led the third set, but the Lady Wolverines tallied 15 of the next 19 points, clinching the straight-set victory and securing its first postseason victory. (At 23-0 this season, it can be assumed Wakefield has become pretty comfortable with the concept of winning.)
Click here for highlights of Wakefield's first-round playoff win over Middle Creek.
Sophomore Elizabeth Campbell set the tone, serving up 11 straight points during Wakefield's rally, capped by an ace, making the score 24-13 Lady Wolverines.
The Mustangs (12-11 overall) managed to score three late points before Wakefield sophomore Lolade Owokoniran ended the contest 25-16 with a block.
Afterward, Terrell lauded the Mustangs late-game effort.
"They presented a really good challenge for us," the coach said. "We saw a couple things we really had to adjust to. That's a good team ... that's a formidable opponent."
As the postseason gets more difficult with each passing round, Terrell reasoned the match-up with Middle Creek provided a "good taste of what's to come."
But for Wakefield's upcoming opponents, including Tuesday's (Oct. 27's) second-round counterpart Durham Jordan, the Lady Wolverines are what the playoffs are all about: battling the state's best. And Wakefield dressed the part Saturday, thwarting the Mustangs 25-15 and 25-16 in the first two sets, and staging a comeback in the third.
The victory is all the more impressive considering the squad was without two players because of the ACT exam and a couple girls were ill.
"Did you saw my bench? We were down to three players over there," Terrell shrugged. "That really changes your strategy."
With the depleted roster, Campbell and junior Catherine Coston stepped up, especially in the service game.
Wakefield senior Katie Slay (16) rises above the net for a kill in Saturday's win over Middle Creek.
"Those two can rock out some points when we need it," the coach said.
Terrell commended Campbell, just a 10th-grader, for her steady play in big situations. It's a characteristic that several Lady Wolverines have, she added.
"We have some good girls who aren't rattled easily," Terrell said. "We try not to play flustered or frustrated, but just find ways to adjust and make due."
In the victory, Cally Pfeiffer finished with 16 assists, Kylie Sicking added 15 assists and six digs and Grace Cho recorded 11 digs.
Katie Slay and Campbell tallied 16 and 13 kills, respectively.
Wakefield hosts Durham Jordan (14-10) Tuesday at 6 p.m. The Lady Falcons were the No. 3 seed out of the PAC-6 Conference, and defeated Pinecrest 3-1 Saturday.
Winner of Tuesday's match plays the winner of the WF-R/Green Hope contest.
The Lady Wolverines are one of just two undefeated teams left in 4-A competition; the other is 20-0 Greenville Rose.
In other action Saturday, Sanderson (6-13) lost to Person, the No. 1 seed from the PAC-6, 3-0.
