Scrappy Royals prove to be tough out for Dover

The Delmarva Christian volleyball team battled hard but lost 3-0 to a high-flying Dover squad Sept. 13.

Opening the season against two of the best programs in the Henlopen North – Cape and Dover – has been tough, but the Royals know they are closer than the two 3-0 matches.

“We played a super strong offensive Dover team that our defense stood up against really well,” said coach Kelly Duffy. “The one thing I can say about our girls is they're never gonna quit. There's not a ball they're afraid of, and they want to come out and win every point. I think that was pretty evident all match, but especially in that third set.”

Despite close starts to the first two sets, the Senators pulled away to win the first set 25-15 and the second set 25-13 before Delmarva Christian made its stand in a heart-pumping 25-22 battle won by Dover to clinch the match.

In the final set, things seemed to start clicking for the Royals, but in the first two sets, it was the blocking at the net that impressed the crowd. Following the Cape loss, Duffy emphasized protection.

“One of the things we worked on this week was being able to put that block up there, and they produced,” Duffy said. “When you see something and you want to work on it and they produce it, that's really all you can ask.” 

Juniors Katherine Jones and Tori Royster led the block party and would even use near-misses as positive steps to build the confidence needed for the close third set.

Delmarva Christian got contributions across the board in addition to Jones and Royster. Libero Morgan Stevenson led the diving-on-the-floor efforts, while freshman Addison Light proved she can play much taller than her age. Senior Kamryn Zarebicki helped out the back line and had a few nice serves. Freshman Raegan Bryant was one of a few Royals to have a strong game serving, as mistakes from serves were minimized.

Senior Riley Barto was all over the court, literally, providing good defense on the backline and aggressiveness at the net on offense.

“The girls are a very close-knit group; they all believe in their roles and their abilities, and they encourage each other every single day, not just in games, but as practices as well,” Duffy said. “That does come from their natural chemistry, and they're really hungry.”