jjohnson@heraldsun.com; 419-6667
RALEIGH -- Cedar Ridge played its normal game against North Surry in the state 2-A volleyball finals, but it wasn't enough for the Red Wolves, who were swept in three games 25-13, 25-21, 25-17.
Normal for Cedar Ridge was to fall behind early in games but then rally for wins. North Surry, which finished its season undefeated in 33 matches, played too well to let Cedar Ridge (25-5) come back.
"We start slow and then fight back," Cedar Ridge coach Charlie Oakley said. "We dug ourselves too big a hole in each game."
The games played out pretty much the same way whether or not Cedar Ridge opened with the serve. North Surry quickly built a four or five point advantage in each game, then staved off any comeback attempts by the Red Wolves.
"We didn't make the adjustments we needed to make," Cedar Ridge senior LeeAnne Maultsby said. "They're a great team. It didn't end the way we wanted it."
Oakley used multiple timeouts in each game to break North Surry's momentum, but it didn't work.
"They were able to take us out of our offense," Oakley said. "We never got into a rhythm."
Part of that was because North Surry almost never let the ball hit the floor. The Greyhounds got to almost every free ball and were able to send it back across the net.
North Surry coach Shane Slate credited his team's chemistry for the ability to react so well.
"We had a lot of different players contribute," Slate said. "We did a good job of getting into positions where we could get to balls. This group has played together a lot, and the chemistry they have together is great."
Maultsby said North Surry's tenaciousness eventually led to frustration for the Red Wolves.
"We were hitting them, and no matter how hard we hit it, they'd send it back to us," Maultsby said. "Then when we tried to hit the holes, they'd get it back, too."
Emily Holmes led Cedar Ridge with seven kills, while Maultsby added six. Maultsby also added 14 digs and seven blocks, including five solo.
North Surry was led by MVP Courtney Campbell, who finished with 18 kills, while Morgan Bunker added 13.
"We had a great season to get to this point," Oakley said. "We just came up a little bit short."
