1 of 8

Members of this year's Manteo Middle School volleyball team include, front, from left, Jada Flowers (15), Julianna Gibbs (9), Adlyn Wescott (12), Easton Alexander (1), Jasmine Ayala (8), Allison MacDonald (10), Gabriella Dawson (13); back row, from left, Caroline Gay (3), Reagan Sherrod (18), Bridgett Bateman (4), Jamie Hopkins (6), Coach Heather Sulkowski, Madison Moore (5), Julia Spangler (14), Kelley Cook (11), Alyssa Rose (2 ), assistant Lisa Johnson and Francesca Mueller-Evans (16). Philip S. Ruckle Jr. photo

Gabriella Dawson (13), Julianna Gibbs (9) and Bridgett Bateman (4) await a serve from a River Road Middle School player during Thursday's middle school volleyball game at Elizabeth City. Manteo won the first three matches 25-23, 25-12 and 25-18. Philip S. Ruckle Jr. photo

Manteo's Kelley Cook prepares to serve during Thursday's middle school volleyball game at River Road Middle School.

Manteo coach Heather Sulkowski, right, and assistant coach Lisa Johnson record player positions before winning Thursday's middle school volleyball game at River Road Middle School in Elizabeth City. Philip S. Ruckle Jr. photo

Bridgett Bateman (4) returns the ball during Thursday's middle school volleyball game at River Road Middle School in Elizabeth City. Manteo won the first three matches 25-23, 25-12, and 25-18. Philip S. Ruckle Jr. photo

Jada Flowers prepares to serve during Thursday's middle school volleyball game at River Road Middle School. Philip S. Ruckle Jr. photo

Manteo coach Heather Sulkowski gives her team a pep talk during Thursday's volleyball game at River Road Middle School in Elizabeth City. Manteo won the first three matches 25-23, 25-12 and 25-18. Philip S. Ruckle Jr. photo

Reagan Sherrod, center, sets the ball up for a spike during Thursday's middle school volleyball game at River Road Middle School in Elizabeth City. Manteo won the first three matches 25-23, 25-12 and 25-18. Philip S. Ruckle Jr. photo

The Manteo Middle School volleyball team scored a decisive win over River Road Middle School in Elizabeth City Thursday.

Opening up with an extremely slow first match, the visiting Braves traded serves with the home team Rockets more than two dozen times and tied the score at least nine times before pulling ahead for the 25-23 win.

The afternoon’s second match saw a more confident and better organized Manteo squad put the River Road volleyball team away 25-12.

Although the Rockets appeared to rebound in the third match, the visiting Braves were again in control and with a couple of multi-point runs made it three in a row with a 25-18 win.

“Our first game was slow,” said Manteo Coach Heather Sulkowski.

Sulkowski said after a poor showing against Perquimans the week prior, the Manteo Braves have picked up some momentum and that confidence is a key.

“We are working on building confidence,” she added. “We’re trying to do things the correct way and not just bang it back over. Things like trying to pass, set and hit. That’s what we are pushing.”

Sulkowski went on to say another goal is to help build the high school program.

“So, we’re doing some things you would not normally do in middle school,” she continued. “That has set them back a little bit, but throughout the game today they looked like they gained confidence with each game they played.”

That likely means spending time on basic playing skills – skills Sulkowski is well acquainted with. A 1996 graduate from Manteo, she played volleyball and basketball at Barton College, a liberal arts school in Wilson. She said after college and early in her career she coached basketball at Peace College in Raleigh, but after that decided to stick with volleyball.

She said her volleyball career was all over the place and at all levels.

“I coached high school, middle school, Division II and Division III college,” Sulkowski explained. “That was in Colorado, Tennessee, Florida and everywhere.”

Moving back to Dare County this past year, June Sulkowski is teaching math at Manteo High School.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS AND EVENTS HERE.

More Sports

Friday last day for Dare Parks and Recreation survey

First Flight, Manteo swimmers compete in first meet of season

Hatteras Island soccer wins

Morgan Miller defends state cross country title