Nation Ford’s volleyball team is in first place in Region 3-5A

The Nation Ford Falcons are right where they want to be at the midpoint of the Region 3-5A season. The Falcons are 16-9 overall and in first place with a 5-0 mark in region play.

Nation Ford head coach Craig Brown, who is in his second year at the helm, is not surprised by his team’s performance.

“I felt that we would be a very good team this year,” Brown said recently. “We had a good group of returning players from last year’s region championship team, and we got some transfers to add to that talent.”

The three transfers are seniors Kennedy Martin and Chelsea Gilmore, and sophomore Jumana Martin. Two are new to the program, while Kennedy Martin returns after being away from Nation Ford for two years. She was a starter as a freshman on the last Falcons’ team to win a state championship.

The Nation Ford team has seven seniors, five juniors, and a pair of sophomores. According to Brown, all of the seniors have stepped up to be exceptional leaders. He also likes the work ethic of this year’s team.

“It is typical of what we always get here,” he said. ‘Our practice sessions are amazing to watch. They compete against each other every day. That competition has made us better individually and as a team.”

Kennedy Martin and seniors Cecilia Fenbert and Lael Valdez are team captains.

“They have been incredible,” he said. “All three are very competitive. They are not always vocal, but they can be when needed. They lead by example both on and off the court.”

Kennedy Martin leads the Falcons in kills with 333, and her kill percentage is 54.4. Gilmore has 127 kills and a kill percent of 42.2. Sophomore Mia Clyburn has 104 kills and a kill percent of 41.3. Valdez adds 73 kills and a kill percentage of 42.2.

Jumana Martin leads the Falcons in aces with 28, while Fenbert and senior Viktoria Baryshevtsev both have recorded 22.

Fenbert and junior Ella Scott are the two setters for the Falcons. Fenbert has dished out 399 assists, while Scott has recorded 191.

“Our setters really see the floor very well,” Brown said. “We are starting to get everything together on offense, and our anticipation on that side of the net has really been a key thus far.”

The Falcons offense is impressive, but their defense has always been a great part of their success.

“We do not like a ball hitting the floor on defense,” Brown said. “Our back line defense has been exceptional thus far.”

Clyburn leads the team in blocks with 45. Kennedy Martin has 28, and Valdez has 22. Jumana Martin paces the Falcons in digs with 252, while Kennedy Martin has 126, and Fenbert has recorded 104.

Nation Ford has to go back around the region when they resume play, and Brown knows it will not be easy.

“There are some very good teams in this region,” he said. “What we have done in the region thus far has given our team a lot of confidence. At the same time we know that when we play those region teams again, we will get their best shot.”

The Nation Ford program is loaded with tradition, and that helps.

“The new players see all the banners, so they know what we have done and what we expect from them to keep our program successful,” the coach said. “The key for us going forward is to stay focused on fundamentals, work hard, and get better every day.”

The Falcons travel to Blythewood on Tuesday. Other region matches include: the Rock Hill Bearcats playing at the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets; and the Clover Blue Eagles at home to take on Spring Valley.

In 4A on Tuesday the Northwestern Trojans host the South Pointe Stallions, the Indian Land Warriors travel to Catawba Ridge, and the York Cougars are at home to battle the Lancaster Bruins.

The Chester Cyclones continue their Region 4-3A schedule on Tuesday when they host Emerald.

In 2A the Buford Yellow Jackets will be at home to take on the Andrew Jackson Volunteers, and the York Prep Patriots are at home against Chesterfield.

The Great Falls Red Devils continue their Region 3-1A slate on Tuesday with a road match against Governor’s School.

Here are the current region standings for The Herald area teams.

Region 3-5A: 1. Nation Ford 5-0/16-9; 2. Clover 3-1/15-4-1; 3. Fort Mill 4-2/14-7; 4. Rock Hill 3-3/6-16; 5. Blythewood 1-5/12-10-2; 6. Spring Valley 0-5/4-10-2.

Region 3-4A: 1. Northwestern 8-0/14-4-2; 2. Catawba Ridge 7-1/13-7; 3. South Pointe 5-3/7-7; 4. Indian Land 3-5/7-14; 5. York 1-7/5-9; 6. Lancaster 0-8/1-10.

Region 4-3A: 1. Union County 6-0/8-8-2; 2. Clinton 3-2/11-3; 3. Woodruff 3-2/7-16; 4. Emerald 1-3/8-6; 5. Chester 0-6/4-11.

Region 5-2A: 1. North Central 8-0/13-4; 2. Buford 6-1/8-2; 3. Andrew Jackson 5-2/6-5; 4. Chesterfield 3-5/5-7; 5. Cheraw 2-6/2-8; 6. York Prep 2-7//3-12; 7. Pageland Central 1-6/3-10.

Region 3-1A: 1. Lewisville 5-0/8-3; 2. McBee 2-1/5-5; 3. Governor’s School 1-1/1-1; 4. Great Falls 2-4/6-7; 5. CA Johnson 0-4/1-10.