KNIGHTDALE - East Wake varsity volleyball looked like it wanted the three set sweep it gave Knightdale in the final regular season conference match Thursday, but the Lady Knights didn't give it up without a fight to the end on senior night.

After honoring Knightdale's only senior, Shemicka Smith, the team was fueled on passion through the final points of the third game, but the visitors came out on top to remain perfect against the Knights for the season.

The Lady Warriors (7-7) took a 10-1 lead over the home team on the serve of Shelbey Bishop and never looked back in game one. East Wake led 15-6 and 21-8 before burying the hatchet, 25-10.

Knightdale fell behind 4-0 to start the second game before rallying behind Kaylyn Fisher's serve for its first lead of the night, 5-4. Fisher's ace gave the Knights the 7-4 lead, but East Wake answered promptly, tying at 7.

The Warriors pulled away to a 3-point lead and Knights lingered that far behind until the visitors lead 18-15. Knightdale never scored another point, and an Alicia Farrior block ended a 6-point Vicki Hamm service streak and the game, 25-15.

Desperation worked in favor of the Knights (2-17, 2-12) as much as the security of a two-game lead worked against East Wake as the third and final game got underway.

Knightdale led 6-1, its greatest lead of the night, but East recovered to an 8-7 deficit on a convincing finish from senior Katie Watkins. From that point on the two teams played tug of score, with ties at 10, 14, 18, and 22.

But when a pair of Melissa Cochran spikes carried deep and Watkins missed wide on one of her own, Knightdale found itself one point away from a fourth game, ahead 24-22. That was until a pair of significant plays came from a freshman, East Wake's Shakerrya Morrison, in the form of a kill, and from junior Cochran, who blocked for the tie and redeemed her previous misfires.

Warrior senior Kellisha Christmas then dinked over the Knights' back row, which had taken the bait and moved in well toward the net, and found hardwood for the 25-24 lead.

The game ended where the match truly began for East Wake - on a Bishop serve. Her dish was never returned, only deflected out of bounds.

East Wake coach Susan Wall said depending on key players to make the big plays has been the story all season long.

"We started off really good tonight," she said. "My eight seniors played really well."

Wall said it meant that much more to end with a win over a rival heading into the opening round of the conference tournament, which began Saturday at Knightdale.

Knightdale fell to No. 1 Garner 3-1 in the first round Saturday, but again fought hard to the end. The Trojans went up 2-1 and squeezed past Knightdale 25-23 in game four to advance to round two.

East Wake swept West Johnston 3-0 in round one. The Lady Warriors played Garner, at Garner, Monday night in round two. Results were not available at press time.