The Blue C Battle: Burbage leads Clayton to first win over Cleveland since 2017
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CLAYTON — For the first time in three years, the Clayton volleyball team was able to win the Blue C Battle against arch rival Cleveland in straight sets on Tuesday night.
The win broke a seven-game losing streak versus Cleveland (2-3, 2-1 GNRC) for Clayton (4-0, 2-0 GNRC). The last time the Comets were able to beat the Rams was on September 18, 2017 in five sets at home. The last time Clayton beat Cleveland on the road was August 22, 2016.
“It was really awesome,” Clayton senior outside hitter Kayla Burbage said. “I’ve only beat Cleveland one time so it was really awesome to be able to play them this season and get a win under our belts moving deeper into the conference play. We have a few younger players so it’s really awesome for their confidence moving forward in the season and hopefully later in the year.”
Burbage took center stage for the Comets. A Missouri signee, Burbage controlled the game above the net with both power and finesse as she got plenty of big swings, tips, blocks and aces. Burbage paced the team in kills with 12.
“She’s (Burbage) been the ultimate teammate,” Clayton head coach Timothy Sullivan said. “We don’t feature her as much as we could, but she’s the true leader out there. She carries us every night.”
The loss for Cleveland hurt, but head coach Shelley Johnson found positives as the Rams scored 16 twice in three sets. Johnson also acknowledged the Rams are going through a rebuild after graduating 10 seniors last year. Cleveland has been the standard of the 3-A Greater Neuse River Conference over the last three years as they won 70 games, went 35-1 in conference play, won at least a share of three regular season conference titles, won three conference tourneys and made the fourth round of the playoffs twice.
“We’re in the rebuilding stage, and to be able to score 16 points in two sets against a phenomenal team like Clayton — I was very proud of what my girls did,” Johnson said. “What I tell my girls right now, as we’re rebuilding, is for my girls to play 110 percent every time they’re on the court. If they’re doing that, then right now they’re doing their job.”
Cleveland will be back in action Thursday against West Johnston. Clayton will take on Smithfield-Selma Thursday as well.
