WS Chronicle

Photos by Timothy Ramsey

BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY 

THE CHRONICLE

Much of what makes a good team is based ton continuity and teamwork rather than sheer talent. For the boys of Kernersville Middle, they have a little of it all.

They put those skills on full display as they beat the Phoenix of Winston-Salem Prep in two dominating volleyball sets.

As Set One opened, the Hawks wasted little time asserting their dominance, jumping out to a 7-2 lead.  The boys of Winston-Salem Prep made a little run, prompting a timeout from Kernersville with the score at 10-6.  The Hawks quickly composed themselves coming out of the timeout and stretched the lead out to 16-10 behind some quality serving.

The Phoenix tried to make the necessary adjustments in an attempt to get back into the set but Kernersville held tough, closing out the set with a powerful spike from their front line.

The second set started off as though it were a close one. Kernersville only led by one with the score at 4-3.

Kernersville then went on a run led by Daryn Reid, Tola Oduyoye, Camden Parrish and Garrett Walker to stretch the lead to 10-4.  Prep was then forced to take a timeout to slow down the Hawks.  The timeout did not work as Dalton Pike and Tyler Williams of Kernersville made sure there would be no comeback and closed out the set by the score of 21-5.

Winston-Salem Prep head coach Dwayne Leach says he knows that with having only six players on his team they are thin but they play hard.  He says he knows with more practice his team will continue to improve.

“I thought we played pretty well and we kept the score close during the first game,” Leach said.  “They didn’t get down when we were behind but we made a lot of mistakes that gave them opportunities, so we have to just shore that up and capitalize on our chances.

“I think our guys are starting to get together.  They started pretty late as far them practicing together but they are gelling.  We have a small squad, but we are now learning what we can do.”

Kernersville coach Amy Bunch said her team has a great mix of upperclassmen and sixth-graders and they all help one another get better every day.

“The guys all worked together and communicated well and they served strong when they needed to,” Bunch said.  “We have great seventh- and eighth-graders, so the younger guys are learning fundamentals from the eighth-graders and they are a good group of boys.  They enjoy each other, they enjoy the game and they just work well with each other.”