Maybe a home match was all the Virginia Peninsula Community College women’s volleyball team needed to get in the win column.
After losing to Region 10 foe Central Carolina Community College and Carolina University in a tri-match in North Carolina on the weekend, the Gators beat Mid-Atlantic Christian University Sept. 8 at SafeHaven Empowerment Center.
The Gators won 25-23, 25-17, 23-25, 25-15, much different from their straight-set losses to start the season.
“We played like a team, all the way through,” Megan Rimer said after her first victory as a college coach. “The girls really came together, looked more cohesive on the court. We really worked well together, communicated well, and the intensity was there throughout the whole match.”
The Gators scored the first three points of the match before giving up the next four. The Mustangs extended their lead to 10-6 and 13-7 before strong serving by first-year player Izzy Arthur (Tabb High School) helped them cut the deficit to 13-12. A service winner by another newcomer, Aniyah Rodgers (Warhill High School), nudged VPCC ahead 21-20, its first lead since early in the match. MACU forced the ninth tie of the set at 23, but the Gators scored on a kill by one of just two returning players, Mikela Waugh (Warwick High School), and closed it out on their first set point on a kill by Arthur. The set also featured four lead changes.
In the second set, which had two ties and two lead changes, the Gators fell behind 6-2 before a 10-3 run put them ahead 12-9. They stretched the lead to 21-15, then closed it out, again, on their first set point.
Looking for a sweep, the Gators started strong in the third set, going ahead 12-5. The Mustangs slowly chipped away and went ahead 19-17. They led 24-20 before the Gators closed to 24-23, but the set ended on the next rally.
“We let them get a little run on us. We just needed a reset and come back together,” Rimer said, crediting the Mustangs’ serving in the set.
Still, she was proud of the way her players closed the set.
“They still finished strong the last little bit of that third set,” Rimer said.
There were five early ties in the fourth set before the Gators went ahead for good at 8-7. They stretched the lead to 14-9 and then 21-11, many with Brielle Kelso (Warhill) serving. The Gators closed it out on their first match point.
Rimer said overcoming early serving mistakes was the difference.
“We just focused on the spot serving,” she said. “I started really (targeting) some spots, picking on their weaknesses on serve receive. Once we got our serves under control and we focused on precision over power, we got it together.”
Arthur, Rodgers, Waugh and Kelso received support from every teammate, so much so that Rimer couldn’t pick a player of the match.
“It’s hard to choose just one player this match,” she said.
Caelyn Frank (Warhill) and Devyn Zimmerman (Poquoson High School) added big serves and strong defense, Ivy James (York High School) assisted on many kills, Jordein Holder (Menchville High School), Sarah Morris (Jamestown High School), Kelly Littlejohn (Tabb) and Mackenzie Stephans (Williamsburg Christian Academy) had key kills and blocks.
Rimer said the strategy going into the match was working as a team from start to finish.
“I think we accomplished that this match,” she said.
The team is back in action Sept. 12 in a Region 10 tri-match with Central Carolina and host Patrick & Henry Community College. The Gators return home Sept. 19 against Rockingham Community College (11 a.m.) and Lenoir Community College (2 p.m.)
For more information on Gators athletics, go to www.vpccgators.com.
