PENDER, NORTH SURRY, GIBBONS AND ROSE WIN TITLES

IN NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION VOLLEYBALL

RALEIGH – Emily Neideffer was named the Most Valuable Player as she led Greenville Rose to its second straight state title as the Rampants downed Charlotte Ardrey Kell for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 4-A volleyball championship at Reynolds Coliseum on Saturday night

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The 5-11 senior middle blocker had 15 kills and eight digs to lift Rose to victory by 25-16, 20-25, 25-23, and 25-19.

Rose, which completed a perfect 25-0 season, also got 10 kills apiece from Caroline Douglas and Jamie DeRatt, who were also in double figures in digs.

Ardrey Kell’s big 6-2 senior, Samantha Gostling, played very well in a losing effort with a game-high 22 kills and 10 digs.

Kell, which was 12-11 a year ago, was playing in its first state volleyball championship in the school’s third year of existence and finished 25-6.

Sophomore Madison Bugg had 11 kills and 12 digs to lead Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons to a sweep of West Henderson for the 3-A volleyball championship.

Gibbons scored a convincing win by 25-14, 25-12 and 25-18.

Bugg earned Most Valuable Player honors as Cardinal Gibbons completed a 25-1 season. West Henderson finished 27-2 overall, with the only losses on the season to the state champions.

Avery Striebel contributed 13 kills and Mandy Kramer 13 digs for the winners.

Meredith Foster paced West Henderson with 10 blocks and four kills.

It was the fourth time in the last five years the two have met for the championship, with Gibbons winning in 2005, ’06 and this year and West Henderson taking the title last year.

North Surry completed a perfect 33-0 season by sweeping past Hillsborough Cedar Ridge in three straight sets to clinch the 2-A championship.

Senior outside hitter Courtney Campbell earned Most Valuable Player honors as she led the Greyhounds to victory by 25-13, 25-21, and 25-17. She led North with 18 kills and eight digs while Morgan Bunker had 13 kills.

North won its first state volleyball title and was in the finals for the first time in 21 years. Cedar Ridge finished with a 26-5 record.

Emily Holmes with 17 kills and LeeAnne Maultsby with six kills paced Cedar Ridge.

Junior outside hitter Jenna Baranowski had 23 kills and three service aces, winning the MVP award to power Pender past Rosman for the 1-A championship. Pender took the match 3-1, winning 25-18, 17-25, 25-22 and 25-20.

Pender, which also got 16 kills and 11 digs from Haley Lanier, won its first state volleyball crown under veteran head coach Ray Horton in its fifth trip to the championship match. Pender was the runner-up in both 2006 and ’08.

Joanna Whitmire led the way for Rosman, 31-2, with 17 kills while Leah Kilpatrick recorded 17 digs. Rosman was in the championship match for the first time since winning a title in 2002.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

2009 STATE VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Reynolds Coliseum, N.C. State, Raleigh

1-A CHAMPIONSHIP

Pender def. Rosman 25-18, 17-25, 25-22, 25-20

2-A CHAMPIONSHIP

North Surry def. Hillsborough Cedar Ridge 25-13, 25-21, 25-17.

3-A CHAMPIONSHIP

Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons def. West Henderson 25-14, 25-12, 25-18

4-A CHAMPIONSHIP

Greenville Rose def. Charlotte Ardrey Kell 25-16, 20-25, 25-23, 25-19