NCHSAA 4-A CHAMPIONSHIP
GREENVILLE ROSE SWEEPS MOUNT TABOR
RALEIGH – Pammy Craigle was named the Most Valuable Player as she led Greenville Rose to a sweep of Winston-Salem Mount Tabor and the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 4-A volleyball championship at Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of North Carolina State University on Saturday night.
Rose won three straight by scores of 25-12, 25-22 and 25-19.
Craigle, a 5-10 junior setter, had 31 assists and seven digs on the night as Rose ran its record to 27-1. Junior Emily Neideffer and soph Caroline Douglas had 10 kills apiece for the victorious Rampants, who won their first NCHSAA volleyball crown in making their second finals appearance in the last five years.
Mount Tabor lost for the first time in 29 starts. Middle hitter Andrea Beck had 10 kills for the Winston-Salem school while Katie Brown had nine kills and 13 digs.
The Raleigh Sports Consortium serves as the host city sponsor of the volleyball championships.
NCHSAA 3-A CHAMPIONSHIP
NORTH IREDELL ROLLS PAST GREENVILLE D.H. CONLEY IN THREE STRAIGHT
RALEIGH – North Iredell, led by the all-around play of senior outside hitter Molly Rhyne, rolled past Greenville D.H. Conley in three straight to win the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 3-A volleyball championship at Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of North Carolina State University on Saturday.
North ran its record to 26-0 with victories by 25-18, 25-22 and 25-17. The Raiders did not lose a single set during the season.
Rhyne had eight kills, 10 digs and two blocks to pace North Iredell to its first NCHSAA volleyball championship in its initial appearance in the state finals. Sophomore outside hitter Hayley Rhyne added eight kills for the winners while Taylor Hardee contributed 25 digs.
Defending state champ Conley finished the season with a record of 25-3 and was in its eighth championship appearance with two previous state titles. Kaitlyn Anderson had 11 kills and Brandi Tanner nine for Conley.
The Raleigh Sports Consortium serves as the host city sponsor of the volleyball championships.
NCHSAA 2-A CHAMPIONSHIP
WEST HENDERSON BEATS CARDINAL GIBBONS IN 2-A
RALEIGH – West Henderson’s Erica Cantrell helped her Lady Falcons outlast Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons in a dramatic North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 2-A volleyball championship match at Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of North Carolina State University on Saturday.
Gibbons won the opener 25-16, and then West won the next two by 28-26 and 25-21. Gibbons evened the match by capturing the fourth by 25-19, but West Henderson grabbed the clincher in the best of five, 15-10.
Cantrell was named the Most Valuable Player of the final with a stellar performance, including 13 kills, 12 digs and five blocks. Meredith Foster also had 12 blocks for the winners while Kremer had 12 kills.
Michelle Fadool led Cardinal Gibbons with 17 kills and Avery Striebel, coming off an injury, contributed 16 kills. Cayla Shortley had 36 digs for the Crusaders.
Both teams entered the final undefeated and Gibbons was the three-time defending state 2-A champion, with a winning streak of 70 matches against North Carolina opposition.
West Henderson, coached by veteran Jan Stanley, the state’s all-time winningest coach in high school volleyball, finished the season 26-0. It was the Falcons’ fifth state title in eight championship appearances, and West Henderson avenged losses to Cardinal Gibbons in both the 2005 and ’06 finals.
Gibbons finished with a 29-1 mark. The Raleigh Sports Consortium serves as the host city sponsor of the volleyball championships.
NCHSAA 1-A CHAMPIONSHIP
CRAWLEY LEADS SWAIN SWEEP OF PENDER
RALEIGH – Senior Cayla Crawley had an outstanding performance to lead Swain County to a dominating win over Pender in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 1-A volleyball championship at Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of North Carolina State University on Saturday night.
Crawley was named the match’s Most Valuable Player as the Lady Maroon Devils rolled by 25-14, 25-19 and 25-17.
Crawley amassed 17 kills with only three hitting errors, four blocks and nine digs as Swain won its 17th consecutive match and finished with a 30-1 mark. It was Swain’s first NCHSAA volleyball championship.
Lauren Maennle had 13 kills for the winners while Alisha Lambert had 13 digs and four blocks.
Pender’s Jenna Baranowski had five kills and eight digs while Haley Lanier was credited with five kills and six digs. Pender ended the season with a 22-4 mark.
It was the Patriots’ fourth visit to the finals, along with appearances in 1986, 2003 and 2006, but Pender is still looking for its first state title in the sport.
The Raleigh Sports Consortium serves as the host city sponsor for the volleyball championships.
