HENDERSONVILLE SWEEPS RALEIGH CHARTER
IN NCHSAA 1-A VOLLEYBALL FINAL
RALEIGH— Senior outside hitter Hailey Cook led Hendersonville to a three-set sweep over Raleigh Charter on Saturday night for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 1-A volleyball championship at Reynolds Coliseum on the N.C. State campus.
Cook, whose size at 6-2 was hard for Raleigh Charter to handle, was named the championship match Most Valuable Player as the Bearcats rolled to the title, 25-20, 25-22 and 25-20.
Cook slammed home 14 kills for the Bearcats, while Victoria Shandevel and Blaire Hawkins had eight digs apiece for the winners. Clara Leonard led Raleigh Charter with nine kills and 13 digs.
Hendersonville won its 10th state volleyball championship in 12 appearances in the final, both of which are the top marks for any NCHSAA school. The Bearcats won their last title on the end of a three-year championship reign in 2007.
Hendersonville ended the year with a 21-6 mark, winning its last 13 in a row, while Raleigh Charter, in the championship match for the first time, ended 22-6.
The Bearcats are coached by Brooke Stanley, in her first year at Hendersonville and the daughter of NCHSAA Hall of Fame member Jan Stanley.
NORTH SURRY OUTLASTS SOUTH GRANVILLE
IN DRAMATIC NCHSAA 2-A VOLLEYBALL FINAL
RALEIGH— Junior middle hitter Malaya Johnson was named the Most Valuable Player as she helped lead North Surry to a dramatic five-set victory over South Granville for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 2-A volleyball championship at Reynolds Coliseum on the N.C. State campus.
North Surry seemed to be in command, taking the first two sets 25-19 and 26-24, before South Granville stormed back to even the match with 25-19 and 25-16 victories. But the Greyhounds prevailed in the decisive set, finally winning 19-17.
Johnson had 12 kills and 12 blocks for the winners while Kristina Rumplasch added 11 kilds. The Greyhound Abby Golding was credited with 21 digs.
Senior outside hitter Mary Catherine Preddy led South Granville with 18 kills and Logan Bradshaw added 10.
North Surry finished the year at 33-2 and was in the championship match for the third time. The Greyhounds had beaten Hillsborough Cedar Ridge for the 2009 2-A title and were the state runners-up back in 1988. South Granville, in its first volleyball championship, wound up 22-6.
CARDINAL GIBBONS SWEEPS JESSE CARSON
IN NCHSAA 3-A VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
RALEIGH— Middle blocker Haleigh Nelson was a force as Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons won its fourth consecutive North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 3-A volleyball championship on Saturday afternoon at Reynolds Coliseum on the N.C. State campus.
Gibbons swept China Grove Jesse Carson in three straight by 26-24, 25-18 and 25-20.
Nelson, who will continue her career at the University of Wisconsin, was named the championship match Most Valuable Player. The 6-3 senior recorded 12 kills and the Crusaders also got excellent play from freshman Briley Brind’Amour, who had 15 kills. Junior libero Biance Gartner had 13 digs for the winners.
Senior middle hitter Amiee Cloninger had 12 kills for Jesse Carson and setter Michaela White was credited with 16 digs.
Gibbons finished the season 21-3 and improved its mark in NCHSAA volleyball finals to 7-1. Carson, making its first trip ever to the championship and seeking its first state team title in any sport, ended its best year ever at 35-4.
CHARLOTTE ARDREY KELL UPENDS RALEIGH LEESVILLE ROAD WITH SWEEP IN STATE 4-A VOLLEYBALL FINAL
RALEIGH— Senior outside hitter Rachel Eppley sparked Charlotte Ardrey Kell to a sweep of previously unbeaten Raleigh Leesville Road to win the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 4-A volleyball championship on Saturday at Reynolds Coliseum on the N.C. State campus.
Eppley, who will continue her volleyball career on that same Reynolds Coliseum floor for N.C. State, was selected as the championship Most Valuable Player as Kell won the title by scores of 29-27, 25-22 and 25-17.
Eppley led the Knights with eight kills and 25 digs.
Senior outside hitter Sasha Karelov had an excellent match for Leesville with 13 kills and 22 digs.
Ardrey Kell, which was the state runner-up in 2009, won its first NCHSAA state volleyball title in the school’s seventh year of existence. The Knights capped a 31-1 season under veteran head coach Zoe Bell.
Leesville Road had entered the championship with a perfect 27-0 mark.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
37TH ANNUAL STATE VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Reynolds Coliseum, North Carolina State University
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP
Hendersonville def. Raleigh Charter 25-20, 25-22, 25-21
CLASS AA CHAMPIONSHIP
North Surry def. South Granville 25-19, 26-24, 19-25, 16-25, 19-17
CLASS AAA CHAMPIONSHIP
Cardinal Gibbons def. Jesse Carson 26-24, 25-18, 25-20
CLASS AAAA CHAMPIONSHIP
Charlotte Ardrey Kell def. Raleigh Leesville Road 29-27, 25-22, 25-17
