LASKER – Maybe the flu season has become the ‘flew’ season – as in they ‘flew’ by their opponents.

Getting their regular starters back after a bout of illness paid off for Northeast Academy Monday as they took a Columbus Day 3-0 shutout volleyball win over Pungo Christian here by scores of 28-26, 25-17 and 25-16.

“We had a two-week slump in there,” said Eagles coach Cap Pfeiffer, “and a lot of that was because of illness. But we won two matches last week against Ridgecroft and Bethel Christian and now today’s win after losing at Pungo last week makes it that much sweeter.

“I told the girls last week it’s a new season,” he added with a smile. “And now we’re three-and-oh.”

In the first contest, Northeast stormed out to a 4-0 lead on the Lady Raiders. But Pungo came back thanks to four kills from Allison Armstrong and took a 7-5 lead.

Northeast then had another four-point run aided by a Kelly Sykes’ kill and three Pungo return errors. The contest then went back-and-forth until it was tied at 19-all.

Northeast looked poised to take a win in regulation after scoring three straight points again to up their lead to 22-19. But Pungo refused to yield as the Lady Raiders took four of the next six points and it looked as if the momentum had swung and the visitors had secured the opening win as Pungo lead 24-23 and were on serve.

Instead, they made a pair of crucial return errors and Northeast re-seized the lead and secured the win by two, 28-26.

Game two featured Northeast blowing out to a 10-4 lead and never looking back. Lacy Pfeiffer had six kills in the set as the closest Pungo came was within seven points at 18-11, and the Lady Raiders were never able to mount a rally and win more than three points in a row. Northeast breezed to the win by eight, 25-17.

Tess Smithwick opened the third set with a couple of monster kills for the visitors, but Northeast was unfazed and ripped their way to an 8-2 lead. Then later, after another Smithwick kill got the Lady Raiders within three at 12-9, Pfeiffer called time out.

“I told my three seniors they had to start digging,” said Pfeiffer after the match, “and they got the message.

“Tonight was Senior Night and Lacy and the Sykes girls (Kelly and Jennifer) have been with me since seventh grade,” he added. “They really came through tonight.”

The seniors responded with a kill apiece down the stretch and despite Pungo getting within three again at 15-9, Northeast outscored their opponents 10-7 down the stretch for a nine-point win and upped their record to 12-5.

“The next three days will be part of a rough week for us,” said Pfeiffer. “with Terra Ceia, Hobgood, and Albemarle all by Friday.

“I’ll see how far down we go,” he added with a grin. “But for now we’re 3-0 on our new season.”