Cape volleyball falls in second round to the Eagles
The Cape volleyball team fell to Smyrna 19-25, 24-26, 25-23, 23-25 in the second round of the DIAA state tournament Nov. 1 in Smyrna.
The Vikings started the match with a mistake-ridden first set. The Eagles, on the other hand, handled the tournament pressure well to take a 25-19 win. The Vikings battled in the second set, but fell 26-24. They edged Smyrna 25-23 in the third set, but fell by the same score in the fourth.
Cape junior Harper Mamele knocked down 18 kills and bumped 10 digs.
“Our communication was poor throughout the match,” said Mamele. “Our serve-receive was a main cause of our struggles early on. It was pretty disappointing to lose to them, especially after beating them earlier in the regular season. However, I’m proud of us for fighting the whole time.”
Cape fought back with heart.
“I think this team was truly something special,” said senior Mallory Terhune, who bumped eight digs. “We are a sisterhood, and we were all working toward a goal, and sadly fell short. We improved so much throughout the season, not only on the court, but also off of the court. It’s sad to say goodbye to this sport, but I’m really happy that I was able to make connections with my teammates and create a family.”
Senior setter Kaylee Sockriter had 38 assists in the match.
“This season has been extremely fun and I am really sad to see it come to an end,” she said. “I am so grateful for my amazing teammates and coaches.”
Senior captain Amalia Fruchtman said her team had great chemistry all season.
“We did a good job fighting adversity and we never gave up,” she said.
Amalia put down four kills, while little sister Amara Fruchtman bumped 26 digs.
“Never a fun feeling having your season come to a close when you feel like you weren’t playing at your best,” said Cape coach Tyler Coupe. “Credit to Smyrna, they served with consistent pressure and to different zones, and we didn’t pick up on it as quickly as usual. We had some uncharacteristic communication errors that led to errors that were hard to come back from.”
Coupe looked at the positives of the game and the 10-7 season.
“Our grit and effort are no way in question, and for that I’m extremely proud of them,” he said. “This was a really fun group this season. Probably the most eclectic group of personalities we’ve had in my time here. They really made each day enjoyable, pushed themselves and pushed us as coaches. I’m really grateful to have been able to spend so much time with them, and I’m extremely thankful for all they’ve done to continue to make the Cape program the best it can be.”
In the first round of the DIAA tourney, Cape defeated Delaware Military Academy with a 25-23, 25-22, 25-22 victory Oct. 30 in Lewes.
The Lady Vikings were lead by libero Amara Fruchtman’s 23 digs and Kaylee Sockriter’s 21 assists and 10 digs. Sophomore Journey McDaniel smashed 11 kills to control the net play.
“We were able to get them out of system a decent amount,” said Coupe. “Our in rally defense was probably the most tenacious I’ve seen it all year. They were making great reads and getting really quality touches on DMA’s attacks.”
Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs.
