via Andrew Beal
The Vance-Granville Community College women’s volleyball team notched another Region X conference victory on Sept. 29, with a 3-0 win (25-16, 25-18 and 25-18) at home over the Cougars from Central Carolina Community College. That brought the Vanguards’ record to 7-5 (3-2 in conference play).
Kara Reese of Henderson led VGCC in kills (12) and in blocks (six). Reese and Rachel Thomas of Louisburg also contributed ten digs apiece. Caitlyn Robins of Creedmoor was dominant in digs (15) and aces (six) while also posting five kills. As in VGCC’s previous conference wins, Melissa Elliott of Townsville was the team leader in assists, with 26 this time.
“After starting out slowly in our first two sets, we settled down and played good defense,” said VGCC Coach Christopher Young. “We had strong performances from Rachel Thomas, Caitlyn Robins and Morgan Carter, great blocking from Jesse Edwards and Kara Reese, and Melissa Elliott did a great job setting up hitters. Jesse left the third set early with an injury, but we stayed the course with strong defense and pulled away with the 3-0 victory.”
VGCC was coming off a pair of non-conference losses on the road at nearby Louisburg College. In the first match of the Sept. 22 doubleheader, the Hurricanes won in three sets (25-21, 25-14 and 25-18). In the second match, VGCC lost the first two sets to Louisburg, 25-22 and 25-17, came back to win the third set, 25-17, but lost the fourth, 25-10.
Over the course of both Louisburg matches, Reese and Robins each had 19 digs, while Edwards and Thomas each had 18. Edwards recorded the most kills (12) and blocks (15). Elliott led the Vanguards in assists, with a total of 32.
The next home match for the Vanguards is set for Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m. at Aycock Recreation Center in Henderson. The visiting opponent is the squad from Davidson County Community College. Doubleheaders at Aycock versus Rockingham Community College on Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. and Laurel University on Oct. 10 at noon will wrap up VGCC’s home schedule for 2015.