Menu
Cape Central’s defense stifle NMCC
NEW MADRID, Mo. — Cape Central bounced back from a recent loss with a straight-set win at New Madrid County Central on Wednesday, Sep. 11.
The Lady Tigers (8-2) displayed a crisper performance and executed their plays more effectively, snapping the Lady Eagles (3-2) three-game winning streak.
“We were pretty solid but there are still things we need to work on and buy into,” said Cape Central coach Sommer McCauley-Perdue. “We were more talkative, kept our serves in and we were more aggressive on the ball.”
Cape Central dominated the first set, jumping out to an early 4-0 lead thanks to two kills from Sydney Miller and an ace from Piper Underwood. Miller and Underwood continued to be standouts throughout the set, showcasing their offensive prowess and contributing significantly.
Miller’s powerful kill sealed the deal for the Lady Tigers, giving them a decisive 25-9 victory in the first set.
“[Miller] can do anything she puts her mind to,” McCauley-Perdue said. “When we needed a point, [Underwood] made it happen. I was impressed with their consistency. ”
The Lady Eagles showed a marked improvement in the second set, pushing the Lady Tigers to the brink.
“We just got some momentum going our way,” said NMCC coach Rae Jean Haines. “One thing led to another and we were just believing in ourselves. Our passes were better, we started executing and hitting the ball, and we were smarter.”
Lindy Childress’s ace gave NMCC an early lead, but Cape Central’s resilience was evident as they fought back.
A couple of kills from JoeBeth Riley helped the Lady Eagles maintain a slight advantage, 16-12. But a late surge, fueled by Underwood and Miller, who had another set-clinching kill, helped the Lady Tigers secure a 25-20 victory.
NMCC showed some early promise in the third set, taking a 2-0 lead thanks to an ace from Miley Cook.
However, Cape Central’s dominance was once again on display as they quickly regained control of the match. The Lady Tigers’ superior play was evident throughout the set, leading to a comfortable 25-10 victory.
Nalaiya Furlow also played a key role in the victory, providing consistent defense and solid serving.
“[Furlow] kept the defense up,” McCauley-Perdue said. “She had good blocks, solid serving, and an overall well-rounded performance. Also, our setters, Ella Hukel and Ashlynn Hickey, made more connections.”
The Lady Tigers’ ability to consistently defend against well-hit and well-placed kill attempts was a key factor in their victory.
“[Cape Central] is so scrappy,” said NMCC coach Rae Jean Haines. “They were picking them up and our girls got a little discouraged. They just have to keep playing and that’s something we have to work on. We mesh well at times, but we have to do that every time we are on the court.”