Apex rallies from big deficit beat Middle Creek volleyball
Sundiata “Sunday” Peoples admits she feels “queasy” entering Apex volleyball matches off the bench, but this time she said “I was hoping I wasn’t going to puke” in the Cougars’ 3-2 comeback Thursday over Middle Creek.
The upset stomach had more to do with the gruesome injury setter Anna Jackson suffered digging a rocket-like kill from Middle Creek junior Megan Marschewski. Jackson was helped to her feet in pain holding her right wrist with the fourth finger bent away at a 90-degree angle.
Not even Mr. Spock could duplicate it.
At the time in Game 4, Middle Creek led 11-8 and extended its advantage to 18-9. But Apex suddenly came to life with Peoples serving three straight points to trim the deficit to 18-13. Apex outscored Middle Creek 16-5 to force Game 5.
The Cougars (7-4, 5-2 Southwest Wake Athletic Conference) maintained the momentum on their way to a 19-25, 25-18, 19-25, 25-23, 15-11 victory over the Mustangs (7-6, 4-4 SWAC).
APEX
The Cougars began the season with an unfamiliar roster that had to learn to play together, but 6-foot junior Alyssa Hansen said Game 4 could be a turning point. The strong play came after losing back-to-back matches to SWAC leaders Green Hope and Panther Creek.
“This is a huge confidence-booster for us,” she said. “I think we’re improving and ready to take on the rest of the season. We had great energy in Game 4, and Sunday gave us a boost. We’re playing together and not as individuals.”
Hansen led the Cougars with 20 kills. Natalie White added 12 kills and Madeline Rudd 10.
MIDDLE CREEK
The Mustangs were overcoming their size disadvantage with defense, passing and opportunistic kills. Middle Creek’s 5-foot-10 Elise Herring was quick at redirecting balls that caught Apex flat-footed and 5-foot-9 Emily Durham has a knack for playing five-to-six feet off the net and hovering as she delivers a diagonal shot tough to block.
Durham led the Mustangs with 21 kills.
Middle Creek coach Adrienne Core feared her team letdown with a comfortable lead in Game 4 and must learn from the lapse in the second half of league play.
“We’re in a really competitive conference,” she said. “If we can get into the playoffs, hopefully we can go deep because we play in such a difficult conference.”
THEY SAID IT
“Thankfully I didn’t puke. I had to do what I could to help us win. We started to play such good defense we were able to shut them down. Our energy together went higher and higher.” – Sundiata Peoples.
This story was originally published September 15, 2016 at 10:10 PM with the headline "Apex rallies from big deficit beat Middle Creek volleyball."