Cape volleyball shuts out Aspira 3-0
The Cape volleyball team’s front-line hitters dominated Aspira 25-6, 25-9, 25-9 at home April 2, to move the squad to 2-0 on the season.
Senior Lawson Whaley led the Vikings with 10 kills and five aces. Ryder Van Horn powered seven kills and three aces, while Blake Fitzgerald knocked down six kills. Senior Braxton Figgs smashed four kills and made four blocks. Setter Jason Harpel-Rickards put up 28 assists.
“While tonight’s score doesn’t reflect a stressful match, I think the boys did a really good job of staying focussed on executions,” said Cape coach Tyler Coupe. “Having a solid core of a guys with their second year starting together, there’s an obvious more comfort to how they play. They’re willing to take more risks on some offensive routes that in seasons past we weren’t experienced enough yet to try.”
Coupe said Jason Harpel-Rickards did a great job pacing the team. Van Horn, Whaley and Figgs are getting better at seeing passes and making offensive calls, he said.
“Blake Fitzgerald went 6-for-6 tonight, which is a great great number for a middle blocker” Couple said. “He’s really improving his eye work to match up as a blocker.
“Our defense wasn’t tested as much as we would have liked, so emphasizing court positioning and reading through the net and calling what we see remains [top] priority in a match like tonight for libero Jake Panyko.”
Cape travels to Smyrna Wednesday, April 15, to play the Eagles.
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.
