DUDLEY — The Southern Wayne Lady Saints opened their volleyball season Tuesday night against cross-county rival Goldsboro in a matchup that brought plenty of energy into the gym.
With Southern Wayne hosting its Tropical Theme Night, the atmosphere was electric as fans packed the gym to watch Coach Morgan and the Lady Saints take the court for the first time this season against Coach Avery and the Goldsboro Lady Cougars.
The night got off to a promising start for Southern Wayne, as the Lady Saints’ junior varsity squad secured a big victory under first-year JV Head Coach Alphin. With the JV team setting the tone, expectations were high for the varsity squad to follow with a strong performance.
Although the Lady Saints ultimately fell to Goldsboro in three sets, Southern Wayne showed moments of resilience, strong communication, and determination throughout the match.
Goldsboro Builds Momentum Early
The Lady Saints got on the scoreboard first in the opening set, but Goldsboro quickly answered with three consecutive points before building an early 6-2 advantage.
Southern Wayne continued to battle, with No. 3 Destiny Bullock making a big play to get the Saints back on the board. After a timeout, the Lady Cougars continued to apply pressure, including a big hit from No. 2 Brylie Reaves that extended Goldsboro’s advantage.
The Lady Saints refused to go away quietly. Southern Wayne began chipping away at the deficit, with No. 4 Emma Kornegay stepping behind the service line and helping the Saints generate momentum.
Goldsboro, however, maintained control of the set. Strong serving from No. 6 Morgan Kornegay helped Southern Wayne make another push, cutting the deficit to 12-24 but the Lady Cougars closed out the opening set, 25-12.
Saints Continue to Battle
Southern Wayne came out aggressively in the second set, taking an early lead behind the serving of No. 5 Addison McPhail.
Goldsboro quickly responded with four straight points and began to establish control. Behind strong serving from No. 10 Taylor Howell and consistent ball movement, the Lady Cougars stretched their advantage to 10-2.
The Lady Saints continued fighting and found another spark as they attempted to climb back into the set. No. 7 Payton Strickland helped Southern Wayne cut into the deficit from the service line, bringing the Saints within five points.
Goldsboro answered with another run, using effective ball movement and pressure around the court to regain its commanding advantage.
The Lady Cougars eventually secured the second set, 25-10, putting Southern Wayne in a difficult position heading into the third.
Southern Wayne Finds Its Rhythm
Despite trailing two sets to none, the Lady Saints came out with renewed energy in the third set.
Southern Wayne grabbed the opening points before Goldsboro responded and took a 4-3 lead. The Saints quickly answered, tying the set at 5-5 behind No. 1 Amberly Morgan at the service line.
The momentum then shifted toward Southern Wayne.
With strong serving from No. 15 Jurnae Ammons and improved ball movement across the court, the Lady Saints took a 9-7 lead and appeared to have found their rhythm.
Goldsboro called a timeout, and the break helped the Lady Cougars regroup. They returned to the court and quickly tied the set at 9-9.
The third set became the most competitive stretch of the night.
Goldsboro’s No. 10 Taylor Howell made a key play at the net, coming up with a save and following it with a point to help the Lady Cougars regain momentum. Southern Wayne called a timeout as Coach Morgan and Coach Alphin worked with the team to make adjustments.
The Saints responded.
No. 5 Addison McPhail delivered a key play at the net, helping Southern Wayne stay within striking distance. Goldsboro once again created separation, however, eventually building a 19-11 advantage.
Saints Refuse to Quit
With the match nearing its conclusion, Southern Wayne continued to battle.
No. 23 Kassidy Williams stepped up from the service line and helped the Saints add two points. The Lady Saints continued their comeback effort, cutting the deficit to 23-17 with No. 1 Amberly Morgan serving.
The comeback ultimately fell short as Goldsboro responded with the final points of the set to take the third, 25-18, and sweep the match.
A Foundation to Build On
The final score did not tell the entire story of Southern Wayne’s opening-night performance.
The Lady Saints showed flashes of the team they can become throughout the season, particularly during the third set. After falling behind early, Southern Wayne continued to compete, made adjustments, and found a way to create momentum against a Goldsboro team that refused to give up its advantage.
For Coach Morgan and her team, the season opener provides an opportunity to learn from mistakes, build on positives, and continue developing chemistry as the season progresses.
The Lady Saints may have left the court without a victory, but their fight throughout the match, especially in the third set, gave Southern Wayne plenty to build on moving forward.
The season is only beginning, and Tuesday night’s performance showed that the Lady Saints are not going to back down when adversity arrives.