Gryphons fall in playoffs’ 2nd round

Rocky Mount High’s volleyball team came within one point of advancing to the third round of the NCHSAA 3-A state playoffs Tuesday night.

In the end, though, Gryphons players must turn in their uniforms.

Visiting West Carteret defeated Rocky Mount, 3-2, by scores of 25-16, 13-25, 25-18, 23-25, 16-14.

“They came here and got in our heads,” Gryphons senior Danita Whitaker said. “We let them do it. We thought because they were a No. 4 seed it was a guaranteed win, and it turned on us.”

Rocky Mount (18-5) forced a deciding fifth game after it trailed 2-1 through the first three. The Gryphons held a 14-12 lead in the final game before the Patriots closed the contest with four straight points.

A service error by Rocky Mount followed by a West Carteret ace evened the game at 14. Whitaker then had a kill opportunity blocked down for the Patriots’ 15th point, and the match ended when a Patriots serve ricocheted off three Gryphons and onto the court.

“I’m not sure it was as much of a defensive breakdown as it was a mental breakdown,” Rocky Mount coach Tabitha Wilcox said. “We all just started looking for someone else to make the play.”

The Gryphons forced the fifth game after a late rally in the fourth. The two squads played to an even 20 before the Patriots scored back-to-back aces. The Gryphons followed with a 5-1 scoring run, including a pair of Whitaker kills, to earn the victory.

The winner of the first three games built a large lead early. The Patriots (17-8) held 6-2 and 7-3 leads in their first and third game victories, while Rocky Mount held an 8-2 and 5-2 lead in its second and fourth game victories.

“Whoever came out of the box quickest had the advantage,” Wilcox said. “It was key for both teams to control tempo.”

Tuesday’s second-round elimination is the earliest for the Gryphons in the past four years. Rocky Mount had advanced the the third round in each of the previous three seasons.

West Carteret 3

Rocky Mount High 2

25-16, 13-25, 25-18, 23-25, 16-14

Leaders: RMH: Danita Whitaker (8 kills, 4 blocks, 2 digs, 1 ace); Heather Hunter (13 assists, 2 kills, 4 blocks, 1 dig, 2 aces); Kendria Worley (12 digs); Brittany Battle (5 kills, 1 assist, 5 aces, 1 block) WC: Megan Mansfield (15 kills, 3 aces); Stacey Wainright (12 kills, 5 aces); Lauren Pierce (12 kills, 6 aces); Katie Bennette (7 blocks, 6 kills)