VOLLEYBALL
Millbrook senior Nada Milkovich (4) sets a ball during Thursday's match at Enloe in the first round of the Cap-7 Conference volleyball tournament. The Wildcats lost 3-0.
Millbrook volleyball falls in league tournament
The Millbrook volleyball team saved its best for the end of the season, but it wasn't enough in its meeting against Enloe Thursday, losing 3-0 in the first round of the Cap-7 Conference tournament.
Entering the contest, the Eagles had dropped just two matches all season, but in the first set Thursday, the Lady Wildcats had the upper hand, jumping out to an early 7-4 lead.
Sophomore Abby Ward set the tone, serving up five straight points, helping the Wildcats to the advantage.
Members of the Sanderson volleyball team celebrate a
point during Tuesday's 3-1 win over rival Millbrook.
Sanderson volleyball downs Millbrook
In the first set of Tuesday's volleyball match between Sanderson and Millbrook, the Lady Wildcats dictated the pace from the start, jumping out 13-4 and looked likely to lock up an early win.
But the Lady Spartans marched back steadily, got within striking distance, and Rebecca Sawyer finished off the comeback, serving the set's last six points and sealing a 25-23 victory.
The Lady Spartans' come-from-behind effort sparked a 3-1 match win, though Millbrook made Sanderson earn every point in the tightly-contested contest.
Wakefield sophomore Bryn Pfeiffer (center) and the Lady Wolverines' volleyball team have plenty to celebrate, improving to 9-0 this season following their win over Millbrook Sept. 10.
Parallels exist
between Wakefield's past and present
Lady Wolverines top Millbrook in volleyball Thursday
Following Thursday's straight-set victory over Millbrook, Wakefield volleyball coach Cynthia Terrell made a bold comparison without saying a word.
While discussing the Lady Wolverines' 9-0 start — 3-0 in Cap-7 Conference play — the coach explained this year's squad reminded her of Wakefield's 2005 club.
Asked how so, Terrell simply pointed to the conference championship banner hanging on the south wall of Wakefield's gymnasium.
Millbrook libero Georgia Ditmore prepares to bump a volley during Tuesday's 3-0 loss at WF-R. It was the Lady Wildcats' Cap-7 Conference opener. They are scheduled to play Enloe Sept. 3.
Millbrook volleyball falls to Cougars
Having dropped the first set 25-15 to Wake Forest-Rolesville Tuesday night, the Millbrook volleyball team quickly fell behind 7-1 in the second set and a rout looked inevitable.
Battling one of the Cap-7 Conference's toughest teams — on the road, no less — and already trailing, the Lady Wildcats could have folded. Others might have.
But Millbrook didn't, storming back not once but twice in the second set.
Wildcats raising expectations
Millbrook senior setter Emily Bower recently spoke with NorthRaleighSports.com about the Wildcats' volleyball program as well as her expectations for 2009.
Click here to read what she had to say.
Wildcat volleyball set sights on postseason
Asked how the Millbrook volleyball program might do this season last week, head coach Chris Grimes couldn't help but tilt his head and look over his shoulder at the Cap-7 Conference banners hanging in the Wildcats' gymnasium.
With Broughton, Enloe, Wakefield and WF-R pennants staring back — all formidable opponents — and Leesville Road and Sanderson likely to see improvement under first-year coaches, Grimes didn't sugarcoat his prediction.
"The goal is to make the playoffs," he said. "Do I think we can be higher than fourth? It is going to be hard. But our goal is still to make the playoffs."
