Volleyball beats Southport, celebrates seniors

The girls volleyball team won Monday’s home non-conference game against rival Southport by a score of 3-1. 

Despite dropping the third game 23-25,  the Lady Falcons quickly stepped up their game. 

And the team’s four seniors, Makayla Gomperts, Sara Allen, Savannah Pipes, and Par Sung assisted in the win.

Assistant coach, Zach Ridener, described it as a “chaotic play.”

“During the game, seeing Par diving for the ball, Makayla and Savannah fiercely hitting the ball, you could tell the girls wanted to win, and that struck me,” he said 

Ridener, a Southport graduate, felt great pride in taking down his former team. 

The ladies finished the game with 25 points to their rival’s  19, culminating in a win for the Falcons.

“It’s been a long week for us,” Ridener said. “We didn’t focus so much on [Southport] because we knew what to expect. There was a greater focus on ourselves and how to fix our problems as a team.” 

The game took place right after the four seniors were celebrated for their efforts over the past four years. They were accompanied by teammates, friends and family. 

According to Ridener, each senior brings a different trait to the team.

“Par brings the toughness, goes for the dive without worrying about the pain until later. Makayla is the mom for the girls and she encourages the team to continue to grow. Sara, she’s quiet but deadly. When she plays, she is completely focused. Savannah is the voice and the leader that the team listens to.” 

Gomperts expressed that her volleyball experience has allowed her to be more confident and become a better team member.

 “We work together, and we spread the work out in our games, so it’s not just one person winning the games. It’s a team effort.”