BEEKMANTOWN —There’s not much you can get by Beekmantown’s Sawyer Fleming.
Counting down to a milestone? She knows it’ll come. A special night for her? She starts to get an idea.
“Honestly, I haven’t thought about it because I’ve only seen 500 digs and I’ve seen 500 assists once,” she said. “I knew when Mr. Frechette (Beekmantown Athletic Director Justin Frechette ) dropped a paper that said ‘Sawyer Fleming’ on the court,like I was like okay, what could that be? I have an idea.”
That idea came to fruition in the third set of a 3-0 sweep of AuSable Valley. That’s when Fleming surpassed 500 career assists.
“This is only the second time we’ve had a milestone like this,” Eagles head coach Allyssa Rock said. “Our first one was a few years ago, one of our liberos with digs. So you know, we run a 6-2 offense almost every year, so she’s sharing all of her assists with somebody. So it’s even bigger an accomplishment because you know, with a 5-1, you’re doubling your assist basically. So for her to reach 500 in a 6-2 offense after year three is great.”
Fleming and Ava Dauphinais split setting duties, as the game wore on Dauphinais was pulled off the court to let Fleming approach the record.
“I had an idea,” she said. “When Ava got pulled off, I saw Mr. Frechette. I saw you guys (the media) and thought ‘I wonder why they’re here.’ When we were in the third set, I thought I was close. We were close to like being done. I knew I was gonna hit it..”
But, it’s not just setting the ball up. Fleming does a little bit of everything for the Eagles. All-in-all she finished with nine points, eight assists, seven kills, three digs and one ace. She said she’ll do whatever is called upon to help her team win.
“When I’m in the front row, I’m hitting, and sometimes if we’re doing good, we won’t rotate, so I just won’t have as many chances in the back row,” Fleming said. “ I just got stuck in the front row hitting.”
Fleming wasn’t alone in the sweep as the Eagles won 25-11, 25-6 and 25-14. Dauphinais finished with 16 points and 15 assists, as every Beekmantown player got in the scorebook.
“We have an incredible atmosphere,” Rock said. “When we’re changing lineups and putting different people in, they’re cheering for each other, even if they’re the one being taken out for somebody else to play. They’re just as excited as if they were the ones on the court. So it’s really great to see their relationships.”
And with a small team, it was bound to get out that Fleming was close to the mark. But, Rock said it was kept a secret until the last minute.
“A couple weeks ago, at the beginning of the season, when I think someone might be kind of getting close, I keep a close eye on it and I tally it. So we only told Sophia Kenyon yesterday so she could make a poster. So other than that, we’ve been keeping it under wraps just to make it even more exciting.”
And while the accomplishment is celebrated, the biggest thing for Fleming and the Eagles was more volleyball to be played.
“I’m excited. I’m happy,” Fleming said. “It’s a big moment like it’s one of only a few accomplishments you can really get from volleyball, hitting the 500 mark for whatever it is. I’m happy I did it with so much season left.”
I mean, I think so. I mean, I’m excited. I’m happy. I think it’s a big like it’s like the most. It’s like the only accomplishment you really get from volleyball is hitting that 500 mark for whatever it is, and I’m happy I did it, especially with so much season left.
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Beekmantown 3, AuSable Valley 0
25-11, 25-6, 25-14
BCS- Burdo 7 kills. Sample 5 points, ace, 3 digs. Fleming 9 points, 1 ace, 8 assists, 7 kills, 3 digs. Boyle 7 points, 2 aces, 5 digs. Bri Thornton 6 points, 1 assists, 3 kills, 4 digs. Gadway 3 points, 2 aces, 1 assist, 1 kill. Dauphinais 16 points, 4 aces, 15 assists, 4 digs. Minasi 1 kill. Kenyon 3 points, 7 kills. Giroux 2 kills.
AVCS- No Stats Reported