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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

While it’s been a trying season for Davie’s varsity volleyball team, the War Eagles showed what they’re capable of when they hosted East Forsyth on Sept. 24.

Almost a month after falling to East in four sets, Davie turned a corner with a strong performance.

“The first East Forsyth game, we left there with a sour taste and a frustrated mindset,” coach Amber Brandon said after the 26-24, 25-17, 26-28, 25-11 victory. “We were still in our one-step-forward, two-steps-back mentality. We knew there were going to be some growing pains early in the season, but we’ve put the work in, we’ve had the long hours and now it’s about believing in yourself. “

Davie had dropped six of seven to East, but a sensational senior, Emma Willard, helped Davie exorcise some demons.

“Emma is playing at a ridiculously high level,” Brandon said. “I’ve been blessed; I’ve had some really strong liberos in the 10 years I’ve been at Davie. And I have never had a kid play the amount of court that Emma is playing. She passes about half the court in serve-receive – that’s the expectation of Division-I college liberos. She plays way more than her responsibility of the court on defense.”

Carly Crouch was a big factor in the season’s signature win.

“Carly has had a good year,” Brandon said. “She worked really hard in the offseason. She’s one of the hardest-working kids I’ve ever coached. She probably hit .600 or .700 against Grimsley, and she had a really good night against East Forsyth.”

Isabelle Branham, Willard and Ella Shea came up big behind the serving line, and it always helps to have three defensive studs (Willard, Shea and Mallorie Brown).

“I’ve got three defensive players who could go to the top schools in the conference and be the libero,” she said.

Reagan 3, Davie 0

Two days later, Davie ran into the Reagan buzzsaw and lost in three sets. The scores were 25-19, 25-13, 25-16.

At the end of last week, Reagan (22-4 overall) was first in the league at 10-0 with West Forsyth next at 9-1. Davie was third at 6-4, followed closely by East at 5-4.

There is some major talent in the top half of the CPC.

“East Forsyth has a kid who is going to be a lock as a Power 4 Division-I player,” Brandon said. “Reagan’s got a couple kids who are going to be Division-I Power 4 players. West Forsyth has a couple kids who are going to be Division-I Power 4 players. A lot of people do not realize just how talented the top half of the CPC is. It is an unbelievably talented conference. We have some talented hitters, too, but our specialty is the defensive side of the ball.”

The War Eagles’ streak of nine straight winning seasons is in jeopardy. At 7-9, they need to upset West Forsyth this week and get on a run to keep the streak alive.

“I’ve seen flashes of really, really good from this team,” she said. “We’re just so darn young that those flashes of good are hidden between some silly and young mistakes.”