Just days after playing its best match of the season the Sandhills Community College Flyers volleyball team struggled to maintain that high level of play against Brunswick Community College.

The Dolphins (11-4) defeated the Flyers, 25-14, 25-20, 25-10, Wednesday night at Heins Gymnasium.

"We were second-guessing ourselves tonight," said SCC first-year coach Alicia Hill. "We weren't passing the ball; we weren't confident in ourselves."

The Dolphins came out swinging early, building an 11-1 lead in the opening game, thanks to the the play of Jordan Clear, a graduate of Harnett Central, and Christine Price.

Clear had a pair of service aces and Price had three kills and a block to give the Dolphins a comfortable lead.

The Flyers reeled off five of the next six points, cutting the margin to 12-6, but got no closer in the opening game."We are still getting comfortable with each other; learning what works and what doesn't," Hill said.

The Flyers were playing without middle blocker Bethany Neller who missed the game for personal reasons. Hill said she wasn't sure how much Neller's absence affected the team.

She was sure, however, that the team didn't play to its capability against the Dolphins.

"This is hard to swallow," Hill said. "I know we are better than this."

The Flyers' best game of the match was the second one. After falling behind 18-6, the Flyers stormed back score 14 for the next 18 points to cut the Dolphin advantage to 22-20.

North Moore graduate Angie Cruz reeled off three of the team's eight aces during that stretch. The Dolphins closed out the second game, scoring the next three points.

Cruz also finished with four assists. Stephanie Powell had 10 digs and two blocks. Amber Otkin had three kills, two aces and two blocks. Lowanda Ingram, who saw increased playing time in Neller's absence, added two kills and a pair of blocks.

The Dolphins started strong in the decisive third game, building a 17-4 lead.

"I told our girls that everything we were unsuccessful at tonight we had practiced," Hill said. "They (BCC) were a good team, take nothing away from them, but we made them look a lot better."

The Flyers dropped to 3-3 on the season. They will play their next four games on the road, before returning home to host Central Carolina at 7 p.m. on Oct. 8.

Contact Tom Embrey at 693-2477 or by e-mail at tembrey@thepilot.com.