TARBORO (1-12, 0-7 1A COASTAL PLAINS CONFERENCE) VS. NORTHSIDE (7-5, 5-4 1A CPC)

PINETOWN — Celebrating its graduating players on Senior Night, Northside overcame a slow start on Tuesday to brush aside Tarboro in three sets, 25-10, 25-16, 25-18.

“We started off a little slow, but as time went on we got the kills that we needed and got the three hits we always want to get and we got some serving going on,” Northside head coach Michelle Leathers said. “We got into a rhythm. (We were) more consistent with our serving and that’s what got everything going.”

Leathers credited senior Jessica Foster for setting up her hitters, like fellow senior Logan Jefferson and Kathleen Slade, to win points. The Northside coach said her squad basically took the game over once they all got in sync. While player like Jefferson and Slade were winning points for the Panthers, Taylor Chase was hustling playing defense on the back row. Leathers said the game was a true team effort, as everyone played a part.

The win over Tarboro was the fourth-consecutive victory for Northside. With the postseason looming, Leathers is pleased to see her squad finish strongly.

“It’s very important that we close on a good note and to stay consistent as we go on into the state playoffs and see how that go,” Leathers said. “So winning plays a major part in going to the next stage of the season.”

 

RIVERSIDE (15-4, 9-0 1A CPC) VS. SOUTHSIDE (5-9, 1-5 1A CPC)

CHOCOWINITY — Southside couldn’t maintain its positive start against Riverside on Tuesday, as the Knights won in straight sets, 25-16, 25-7, 25-11, to hand the Seahawks their fifth-straight defeat and remain undefeated in the conference.

Southside head coach Atyana Starkie said she believes her players biggest issue is they get in their own heads, which leads to mistakes.

“The second set, once they (the Knights) started hitting a little harder, then the girls got tense. And once they’re tense then it’s harder for them to play just a clean game of volleyball,” Starkie said. “They tense up or they react before they even think about it, then they make the play messy. Because when they relax, especially at practice, they play so well. They play clean ball. But once they get some good competition, then we just react and don’t really think about keeping our formation, as far as defense. So, I think the biggest thing is keeping them relaxed.”

Despite the loss to Riverside, Starkie said her team took some confidence from the game, as Southside played well in flashes against the conference leaders. The self-assurance should come in handy for the Seahawks, as they next face rival Northside. The Panthers won the first matchup, but expect a tight game, as Starkie said the rivalry pushes her players even more.

Southside hosts the Panthers tomorrow, with the match scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.