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Carson stays perfect with four-game win over Hickory Ridge

Photo by James Nix

Hickory Ridge's Bethany Laden blocks a shot from Carson's Taylor Whitley Tuesday night in Harrisburg.

By Steve Winzenread | Independent Tribune

Published: September 8, 2009

HARRISBURG — The Carson volleyball team remains undefeated, turning back all comers.
On Tuesday night, the Cougars won at Hickory Ridge 25-15, 25-14, 23-25, 25-19 in a nonconference match.
"We're playing pretty well right now," said Carson coach Kelan Rogers. "They're talented. We just put things together and we're starting to mesh."
Carson has now beaten South Piedmont 3A Conference powers Hickory Ridge and Mount Pleasant, each in four games.
Hickory Ridge was coming off a big win over Mount Pleasant last Thursday. Ragin' Bulls coach Patti Chason said that playing a team as good as Carson "definitely" helps the Bulls get better.
"But it's no comparison to what we did last Thursday when we played Mount Pleasant," she said. "That was just a great in-conference, in-town rivalry."
It was also the first time Hickory Ridge had beaten the Tigers in volleyball.
"We knew (Carson) was good," Chason said. "My girls were just off today. Maybe the long weekend threw them for a loop.
"I tried several different combinations to find one to pick the spirit up a little bit."
The Bulls discovered a spark at the end of game three, rallying from a 22-17 deficit to win behind the serving of Alex Vliet and Kaitlyn Shaw.
Shaw served for two aces, including on the decisive point.
"I know they can do it (come from behind)," Chason said. "We were down 23-13 and won a match 26-24. It just didn't seem like they had that confidence in themselves today."
In game four, the Carson quartet of Jenifer Hough, Breckin Settleymyer, Allison Blackwelder and Amber Ingraham helped pull the Cougars through.
"We've got some big matches coming up against a defending state champion and state runner-up," Rogers said. "Hopefully this will help us get prepared for it a little bit better."
With Blackwelder and Ingraham serving, Carson went from an 8-6 lead in game one to a 20-8 cushion.
In game two, when the Bulls (5-2) closed within 15-11 on Vliet's kill, Hough delivered her own kill and Carson was off on another winning run.
"I expect it when we walk on the court," Rogers said. "I think they're starting to expect to win. That's what we're looking to do. Hopefully if a team beats us, they're going to have to beat us instead of us giving it to them."
Meanwhile, Hickory Ridge is undefeated in the SPC.
"There's going to be a lot of competition," Chason said. "It's going to be who comes wanting to play, who wants to win the most. Definitely the competition is there.
"It's going to be tight."