By Dylan Branscome
September 3, 2024 – The Davidson-Davie Storm fell short in three sets (10-25 22-25 16-25) against the Cleveland County Yetis on Tuesday night, falling to 0-3. Even with great performances from Carleigh Whitson (3 aces, 17 digs) and Isabella Grieser (1 ace, 3 kills, 7 digs), Davidson-Davie was unable to capture its first win of the season.
The first set was disastrous for the Storm, quickly falling behind. Cleveland County did not allow a single kill the entire first set, using their height and athleticism to block any attack Davidson-Davie attempted. The Storm did acquire 10 digs as a team, 5 of them from Whitson, but it was not enough to defend the Yetis’ hard-hitting offense.
After a rough performance in the first set, Whitson opens the second set with an ace, setting the tone for a much more competitive outing. This set started with a sizable 8-3 Storm lead, but the Yetis would not quit, making this set neck and neck. Kills from Emma Davis, Logann Beaver, Grieser, and Haley Peace, all assisted by Mackenzie Roach and Whitson, made for a solid outing offensively for the Storm. Davidson-Davie stayed scrappy as well, adding 14 digs and getting a couple of blocks at the net. This set was exactly what Storm head coach Emma Carter wants from her team consistently.
“It’s crucial for the girls to play together as a unit not just in spurts but throughout the entirety on the game,” says Carter when asked about what’s
important for the Storm to win. “We’re still dealing with a few injuries and players out, but I believe our team has the fight it takes to push through
having smaller numbers.”
The Storm, even if they were unable to come out on top, showed that they are starting to gel as a unit. 5 of their 8 players were able to score a kill, showing that they have multiple weapons to serve the ball to.
Davidson-Davie was able to stick with Cleveland County in the third set for several volleys before the Yetis started to pull away. Davis and Beaver did add a couple of kills each, however, assisted by Roach.
The Storm return to action on the road against the University of South Carolina Lancaster Lancers on Wednesday, September 4 at 6:00 PM EDT.