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Hounds claim final playoff berth
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Published: October 20, 2009
A determined Statesville squad responded to coach Denise Hayes' clipboard challenge, rallying to defeat South Rowan 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-19, 15-9) to advance in the North Piedmont Conference tournament and capture the fourth and final NPC state playoff spot.
Hayes writes a motivational phrase on her clipboard before each match to inspire her team. She chose the phrase "Want It All" for this do-or-die battle, with the losing team done for the year.
The Greyhounds, who continue tournament play today against West Iredell, were equal to the coach's challenge.
An example of the type of effort given by the Greyhounds occurred in game two with the score tied 23-23 and Statesville in danger of finding itself in a 2-0 hole.
South's Kayla Morrow slammed a ball toward the court that was deflected by Joni Henderson right before it hit the court, but went spiraling well beyond the boundary line near the wall in the Statesville gym.
Roneisha Wilkins gave chase, lunged for the ball and hit it straight up in the air. When Janitsha Williams caught up with the ball, she found herself all the way back near the basketball goal.
Williams, a star player on the Greyhound basketball team, made yet another memory on her home court, somehow willing the ball back over the net.
A stunned Raiders team hit the ball in the net, giving the Hounds a 24-23 lead.
"I knew that this could be our last game," said Williams, who finished with 22 digs. "I told everybody to play their hardest and let's make it our best game."
The Greyhounds closed out game two, but lost game three as Morrow, who has committed to play for Lenoir-Rhyne, took over. Morrow, who finished with 14 kills and 11 blocks, was a one-person wrecking crew at the net.
Down two games to one, Statesville's seven seniors refused to let their Greyhound careers end, each contributing key plays at big moments in a tense affair that had spectators on their feet.
Shahida Rankin delivered four emphatic kills in game four, each coming at crucial moments.
"It was in the back of my head that if we lost, the season was over," Rankin said. "I didn't want it to end tonight."
It was only fitting that Shaneka Harvey, a senior who used her low-trajectory serve to account for 17 service points, served on the winning point.
Henderson, another senior who had her usual big game with 16 kills, 10 digs and four blocks, spiked the ball for the game-clinching point, setting off a wild celebration on the Statesville side.
"It was a total team effort," Hayes said. "The girls gave it their all."
Hayes asked for it and she got it.
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