Lakewood’s volleyball team was knocked off by visiting Clinton on Wednesday in their season opener.
Lakewood looked ready to win the match by taking the first two sets by scores of 25-7 and 25-20. However, the Dark Horses blitzed the Lady Leopards in the next set, by defeating them 25-6. Clinton then reeled off another set win to force a fifth set.
In the final frame, it was the Lady Dark Horses taking the 15-13 win.
In that final set, Lakewood grabbed an early lead, but Clinton battled back to take an 11-9 lead that they would never relinquish.
“Clinton played well when it counted,” said Lakewood’s head coach, Sheila Davidson. “We will learn from this and get better. We played in streaks and we just need to get more consistent. We are a different team than last year, and we are learning to play a different system. It may take some time for everyone to learn the system and to get our chemistry down, but I am confident that we will come together.”
Stats were unavailable for Clinton at press time. However, Torey Spell and Jamie Jones each had good games for the Lady Horses, who stormed back to claim the victory.
Leaders for the Leopards were Anna Heinz, who had 9 aces, 6 kills, 5 assists, and 47 digs; Aleah Parker, who had 12 kills, 5 blocks, and an ace; Brianna Wheeler, 6 kills, 3 aces, 16 digs; Alana Jackson, 14 assists, an ace, and 3 digs, and McKenzie Davidson, who had 12 assists.
The Clinton JV team also won their match against Lakewood by a score of 2-1. They won the first set, 25-21 before losing the second set, as Lakewood claimed it by a score of 25-19. Clinton rallied back in the third and final set, and took it, 25-23.
Lakewood is set to take the court again on Saturday, when they travel to Lumberton for the UNC Pembroke Invitational.
Clinton is now 2-0 on the year, following this win and their season-opening win over Smithfield-Selma. They are back in action next Wednesday, when they will host Lakewood.