LA GRANGE --- Going into a tougher conference schedule didn’t mean the Hawks would stop winning, which they proved Thursday.
The undefeated North Lenoir swept a winless Kinston team, 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-20). It was one of the opening Eastern Carolina 2A conference matches. Kinston’s game improved from its season opener a few weeks back, but unforced errors and North Lenoir’s momentum held the Vikings down.
Hawks coach Heather Carson said her team had their own kinks to work out after watching their first conference game.
The Hawks missed 12 serves in the three sets.
“That’s just points you’re giving to the other team,” Carson said. “So we’ve got to focus hard on our serving, and we just have to keep talking and communicating.”
All three games were close calls, while Kinston (0-8) stayed on pace with North Lenoir (9-0) throughout. A string of Vikings service aces helped close a mid-game score gap and put them ahead. On the net, outside hitter Lidia Rivers lead her team with eight kills and a solo block.
In the final set, Rivers and setter Jessie Singleton hooked up back to back after Kinston lost a five point lead. To challenge Rivers’ attacks was North Lenoir’s Laura Haerer, who had two blocks in Set 3.
Kinston struggled to find its groove early as they notched penalties and gained stride a little too late.
“We’ve got a lot of hustle,” Kinston coach Leisa Evans said. “Our upperclassmen are stepping up and being the great leaders that we need them to be. I’m looking positively on the rest our season.”
She said if the Vikings clean up their numerous unforced errors, they can start winning.
Carson hopes this first conference win will pull the Hawks through the rest of the season with an unblemished record.
“We’ve got many goals for ourselves each game,” she said. “Hopefully, (the win) will get us some momentum headed into the conference. We play Greene Central Tuesday, and hopefully we’ll get into an upward swing.”
The Vikings plays Goldsboro Tuesday in Kinston.
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Jessika.Morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.