Spring Creek tops Eastern Wayne for first time since 2023
Spring Creek tops Eastern Wayne for first time since 2023
SEVEN SPRINGS — Spring Creek used strong serving and a fast finish Wednesday to defeat Eastern Wayne 3-1 for its first victory over the Warriors since 2023.
The Gators won 25-22, 25-21, 15-25 and 25-11, improving to 3-11. Eastern Wayne fell to 2-5.
“The team had really good energy,” Spring Creek coach Cassidy Davis said. “We were together as a team tonight. Overall, I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Spring Creek opened the first set with a 3-0 lead before Keity Torres Ponce helped extend the advantage to 9-5 from the service line. Eastern Wayne responded and tied the set at 11 and again at 13, but consecutive kills from Torres Ponce helped the Gators regain control.
The Warriors continued to battle and pulled even at 22. Spring Creek scored three of the final four points to secure the opening set, 25-22.
Torres Ponce remained a difference-maker in the second set. Her serving helped Spring Creek build an early 7-5 advantage, but Eastern Wayne senior Griselda Guevara answered with two consecutive aces to tie the score.
Eastern Wayne eventually moved ahead 15-12 and held a 16-14 advantage before Spring Creek fought back. The teams were tied at 18 and 19 before the Gators closed the set on a 6-2 run for a 25-21 victory.
“Keity is an excellent server,” Davis said. “She is one of our captains for a very good reason. The girls look to her, and the energy comes alive every time she is serving.”
Eastern Wayne avoided the sweep with its strongest stretch of the match in the third set. The Warriors built an 11-5 lead, and sophomore Hailey Dean delivered a hard kill to extend the margin to 12-6.
Spring Creek senior Alaina Pratt and Torres Ponce answered with kills, but Eastern Wayne continued to pull away. Lyric Hagans added consecutive service points late as the Warriors took the set 25-15.
Dean led Eastern Wayne with nine kills, three aces and three blocks. Sophia Carter finished with eight kills, five assists and three blocks. The Warriors recorded 26 kills, 11 aces, eight blocks and 23 digs as a team.
Spring Creek responded immediately in the fourth set. The Gators took a 12-6 lead, extended it to 20-10 and closed the match with a convincing 25-11 victory.
“I thought I played really well,” Torres Ponce said. “The win felt very good. I really wanted to beat this team.”
The victory provided another step forward for a Spring Creek team trying to develop consistency while dealing with injuries.
“We are young,” Davis said. “We do have a lot of seniors, but a lot are out with injuries right now. Growing and fundamental things are what we are focusing on.”
Spring Creek was scheduled to visit James Kenan on Thursday, while Eastern Wayne was scheduled to host Washington.
