ROCKINGHAM — Rockingham Middle School’s volleyball team had a shot at redemption on Friday against rival Hamlet Middle School.
The two teams met in the 2020-21 volleyball championship match, and the Lady Rockets redeemed themselves with a title win after losing to Hamlet in last year’s finale.
Head coach Teresa Mason and the Lady Rockets won the best-of-five sets match 3-0. Set scores were 25-18, 25-10 and 25-21. Rockingham completed a perfect season with a 7-0 record.
“In spite of the fact that we only had a few days to prepare for our first game, the girls worked extremely hard each day at practice with the goal of being better than they were the day before,” Mason said.
“Although everything around them looked differently, their commitment to volleyball never changed. To accomplish so much in so little time is a testament to their dedication, determination and love for the game. This is definitely a season that we will never forget.”
Middle school volleyball returned this week after a two-month break due to Richmond County Schools going to 100 percent online learning in early December. Because of the pandemic, this year’s volleyball season consisted of just Richmond County’s four middle schools.
The Lady Red Rams would hold at least a three-point lead in each set, but the Lady Rockets always found a way to answer.
In the second and third sets, eighth grader Tess Bryant, who is a first-year player, was instrumental in helping Rockingham clinch the title. In the second set, Bryant served 10 straight points for Rockingham, flipping the scoreboard to a 15-8 lead for the Lady Rockets.
With Hamlet up 20-17 in the final set, Rockingham scored five consecutive points with Bryant at the serving line. Leading 22-20, Mason and company closed out the win on a 3-1 run.
Rockingham’s Tess Bryant pictured during Friday’s championship match. Photo: Deon Cranford.
Bryant finished the afternoon with 31 points, while teammate Melissa Canas added double figures with 13 points.
J’Nasia Neal and Kamora Watkins both had eight points, Madisen Jackson had seven points, Sharonda Henderson contributed six points and Gracie Scott had one point for Rockingham.
The Lady Red Rams (3-4) finished the regular season tied with Cordova Middle School (3-3) for second place in the conference after the pair split its doubleheader. Per the conference’s rules, a coin toss was used to decide which team would play Rockingham in the championship.
“I have a really young team,” coach Alex Gardner said. “I was so proud of the growth I saw in such a short season, and I’m really excited to see how great they become over the years.
“The shortened practices and then the pause really threw off our game, but I couldn’t ask for a team with more heart and drive,” she added “Orena Drake was the only one on the team who had played all three years and she grew into an amazing leader on the court. She has such a bright future ahead of her.”
Kinsie Lyerly led Hamlet with six aces in the match and added a kill. Drake recorded five aces and had team-highs with two kills and three digs.
Also recording aces for Hamlet were Hayden Robinson with two, and Kalynn McCormick, Jakayla Steele and Keelan Fisher all had one. McCormick added one kill and one dig, and Fisher tallied a dig.
“Congratulations to the players who worked hard to achieve an undefeated season,” Mason said. “And thank you to the parents, teachers, staff and fans for their support throughout our season.
“I want to extend an extra special thank you to my assistant coach, Wandesha Jackson, for her time and dedication throughout the season and always accepting no less than the best from the team,” she closed.
