The Cape girls’ volleyball team remains undefeated in Henlopen Conference play after winning its ninth straight conference match and 27th consecutive conference set, beating visiting Sussex Tech by a 3-0 score.

“It's probably the best Tech team I've seen in six or seven years,” Cape coach Tyler Coupe said. “They were really doing things.”

Senior Ava Calciano opened the game serving for the Vikings, leading to five straight points from the home team. She finished tied with sophomore Harper Mamele for the team lead in aces with three. Cape used its early advantage to distance itself from the Ravens en route to a 25-12 win, snapping Sussex Tech’s consecutive set streak at 12. Flashing their depth, the Vikings got production across the board at the net.

“I think our offense ran pretty diversely, not only in who we were setting but how we were attacking as individuals,” Coupe said.

The Ravens were put on the ropes when Cape’s offensive explosion continued in a 25-15 second set victory. Harper Mamele (11) and Amalia Fruchtman (10) finished 1-2 on the team in kills, but the Vikings also got four kills from Camilla Willis, and three each from Calciano, Brielle Ross and Rylee Ockels. McKenzie Everson and Emme Smith had one apiece. Smith was usually the one setting up the kills, leading the team with 25 assists.

“I like just to be able to put a ball up and then I have somebody that can smack it down for me – it's amazing,” Smith said.

Smith credits the backline, specifically libero Amara Fruchtman, with giving her the chance to deliver quality passes at the front for her teammates.

“She does very well at moving around the ball and moving to every spot; she gets almost every ball up and it's usually a perfect pass, or, even if it's not, we can still make a play off it,” Smith said. “Everybody was doing a pretty good job in our back row getting those passes up, just talking with each other.”

The younger Fruchtman’s 11 digs led the team while Mallory Terhune finished second with seven. Kaylee Sockriter’s nine assists slotted her second on the team behind Smith.

Sussex Tech refused to go down quietly, however, and jumped out to nearly a double-digit lead to begin the third set. 

“We were doing pretty good in the first and second set; I think the energy went away a little bit then,” Smith said. “When there's no energy, you don't play as well; everybody's down and you're just not playing your best.”

Luckily, the Vikings got their groove back, coming from behind to ground the Ravens 25-22 and win the match 3-0.

“In set three, we played pretty poorly, especially the first three quarters, but for us not to call a timeout, for the girls to be able to be aware of their mistakes and then correct them within a set is a good testament to some of our growth,” Coupe said.