The Southside volleyball team jumped out to a fast start against Camden as it won its first match, but battled with consistency as it fell in five to the Bruins in its Four Rivers Conference opener.
The Seahawks (2-3, 0-1) came on strong early as it won the first match 25-17 but lost the next two matches 25-17, 25-13 before it held on to win the pivotal fourth match 25-23. Southside looked as if it was going to complete the comeback in the fifth and final match as it held a 10-8 lead but Camden rallied and outscored the Seahawks 7-3 down the stretch to earn a 15-13 victory.
The game was a bit of growing pains for Southside as the team is still learning the system of first-year coach Rosalyn Grimes, who graduated from Southside in 2001.
After the game Grimes said she was happy with her team’s effort but that her Seahawks need to step up on defense.
“I thought they played really well,” Grimes said. “The defense wasn’t what I wanted it to be but overall I thought they played pretty good.”
“We’re trying a new defense that I just pulled out so they are still adjusting to it. But, I think they are starting to see that it works.”
The Seahawks got a strong game up front from Katie Laughinghouse, whose smashed left-handed spikes across the net the entire match and racked up a team-high eight kills. Southside’s Kyajia Mourning also played strong up front and added five kills, while Sondra Sparks dished out a team-high 45 assists and Macy Paramore added 26 assists.
“Katie Laughinghouse had a good game for us and always plays well,” Grimes said. “Kyajia Mourning had a really good night even though she has a pin in her leg that limits her from bending down and Sondra Sparks had a good night too.”
Southside ran hot and cold throughout the five matches. Grimes said when her team is playing good on defense is when its level of play is at its highest.
“When we play well we’re covering,” Grimes said. “We’re hitting the ball and covering. We have some great hitters on this team.”
The Seahawks will be back in action on Tuesday when they play at Manteo.