Storm embraces unprecedented success

by Daniel Kennedy
The High Point Enterprise

April 21, 2010

LEXINGTON – For coaches and players at Davidson County Community College, Tuesday night validated a series of accomplishments three years in the making.

An elegant banquet held inside the campus’ brand new Conference Center honored the 2009-2010 women’s volleyball and men’s basketball programs for reaching national prominence in just the third year of DCCC athletics.

“We had special teams and a special year,” Storm basketball coach Matt Ridge proclaimed before a large crowd Tuesday.

Volleyball coach Kevin Hammond seconded his opinion. DCCC’s volleyball squad finished the season with a 19-9 overall record and a perfect 6-0 mark as Tarheel Conference Champions. Upon completion of its unblemished conference title, the Storm went on to become Region X and District H Champions before qualifying as an NJCAA Elite 8 Finalist.

Among the multitude of individual achievements, DCCC had three players – Logan Ballue, Whitley Saintsing and Katie Watkins – to earn first team All-Conference honors. Watkins represented the school as Region X player of the year.

“I have a terrific group of girls,” Hammond said. “Every woman who was on this team was their high school’s best player. You always worry about (chemistry), but the team I had this year sacrificed themselves for team success.”

DCCC basketball also enjoyed an incredible season, highlighted by a 21-game winning streak over three months, a streak that culminated in Tarheel Conference, Region X and District 7 Championships.

The run came to an end during the NJCAA Division III national tournament. The Storm dropped three contests by a combined margin of 12 points to finish eighth in the nation among D-III junior colleges.

Roderick Geter finished his career as DCCC’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Justin Strickland and Eric Potts, Phillip Williams and Justin Glover all made the All-Conference and All-Region teams. Glover also joined Kimani Hunt and Robbie Rives on the All-Freshman squad and became a Third Team All-American.

Collectively, the outgoing sophomore class won 54 basketball games in two years.

“Awards are a byproduct of having a great team,” said Ridge – 2010 District 7 Coach of the Year.”