Sussex Academy volleyball powers through Red Lion

They had to sweat out the third set a bit, but the Seahawks of Sussex Academy flew to a 3-0 victory over Red Lion Christian Academy Oct. 2. 

“We were in control of it at the start, and then we kind of got off a little bit, but we went back and got the win in three,” said libero Anna Lara-Nieto.

Sussex Academy triumphed in the first set 25-15 and roared to a 25-11 win in the second set.

“The first two sets, we were really happy with their energy and the momentum going into the third set,” said coach Hailee Gooch. “We let some mistakes get in the way and lost focus a little bit.”

Red Lion didn’t go down easy and took a lead late in the third set with the score spiking toward the 25 mark. The Seahawks were able to withstand the onslaught, pulling out the win in the third set 25-22 to seal the 3-0 victory.

“Maybe last year we wouldn't have come up from that, but this year I think definitely the connection between us is so strong that we have trust in each other to come back, even if we get a little down,” said sophomore Nadia Ahmed.

Ahmed played an important part in the victory, joining Lara-Nieto in the back row and attacking the net with ferocity. She has stepped into more hits, literally, and has taken on more leadership, wanting to help the younger girls.

“We've been wanting to be more aggressive this year; Hailee wants us to come out stronger and better, and she really thinks that we can be a good team this year,” Ahmed said. 

The Seahawks sit at 8-1, playing Delmarva Christian at home after the Cape Gazette deadline Oct. 6, and will travel to Caesar Rodney Tuesday, Oct. 7, and Seaford Thursday, Oct. 9, in their only three-match week of the season.