RALEIGH WAKEFIELD DEFEATS CORNELIUS HOUGHIN NCHSAA 4-A VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
RALEIGH— Outside hitter Darian Mack led the way as Raleigh Wakefield outlasted Cornelius W.A. Hough in four sets on Saturday night to take the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 4-A volleyball championship at Reynolds Coliseum on the N.C. State campus.
Mack, a 6-1 senior, was a unanimous selection as Most Valuable Player of the championship with Wakefield prevailing 25-22, 25-19, 20-25 and 25-22. She was credited with a game-high 20 kills.
Wakefield played excellent volleyball in winning the first two sets, sparked by some big kills by Mack. Hough battled back, however, with outside hitter Julia Brown making several key plays, to take the third set. Brown has committed to play at N.C. State.
The fourth set stayed tight until a Wakefield spurt put the Wolverines up 19-13. The Huskies kept scrapping and pulled within two four times before Wakefield finally put it away with a kill by Mack ending it at 25-22.
Jordan Glass had 13 digs for the winners. Brown led Hough with 10 kills and libero Maddie Lippy had 12 digs for the Huskies.
Both schools were making their initial appearances in the NCHSAA volleyball championships. Wakefield finished the season with a record of 25-2 while Hough posted a 32-2 slate.
CARDINAL GIBBONS WINS FIFTH CONSECUTIVE TITLEIN NCHSAA 3-A VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
RALEIGH— In a battle of undefeated teams, Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons defeated China Grove Jesse Carson in three straight sets to capture the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 3-A volleyball championship on Saturday night at Reynolds Coliseum on the N.C. State campus.
Cardinal Gibbons became the first NCHSAA school to win five consecutive state championships, downing Carson by scores of 25-19, 25-13 and 26-24.
The Crusaders, who finished the year perfect in 28 starts, now have an amazing postseason record in NCHSAA play of 37-1 and have been in the finals nine times with eight state crowns.
Senior setter Cheyenne Wood, who helped initiate the Crusader attack throughout the contest, was named the Most Valuable Player of the championship match.
Outside hitter Amy Robertson connected on 10 kills for the winners and Carmen Sigmon led the Crusaders in digs with 15.
Jesse Carson, in the finals for the second consecutive year against Gibbons, finished the season with a 34-1 record. Hannah Elmore and Madison West each had seven kills for the Cougars.
BORN LEADS HENDERSONVILLE TO NCHSAA 2-A VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
RALEIGH— Outside hitter Cassie Born had nine kills to lead Hendersonville past Trinity Wheatmore on Saturday afternoon in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 2-A volleyball championship at Reynolds Coliseum on the N.C. State campus.
Hendersonville took the title in four closely contested sets, with scores of 25-20, 26-24, 22-25 and 25-21.
Born, a junior, was named the Most Valuable Player of the championship.
Caylie Shue also had an excellent overall effort for the winners, with 12 kills. Amber Wheeler, Micayla Bedoian and Jamie Lee Zullo each had eight kills apiece for Hendersonville.
The Bearcats won their 11th state volleyball championship in 13 appearances in the final, both of which are the top marks for any NCHSAA school. Hendersonville ended the campaign with a 24-5 record and earned its second consecutive state title after winning the 1-A crown a year ago but moving up in the new realignment period.
Wheatmore, a relatively new school, finished 27-2 overall in its first trip to an NCHSAA volleyball championship. Casey Hawkins had a great defensive effort for the Warriors with 19 digs, while senior Kathryn Johnson had 10 kills and 16 digs for Wheatmore.
STARMOUNT SWEEPS RALEIGH CHARTER
IN NCHSAA 1-A VOLLEYBALL FINAL
RALEIGH— Boonville Starmount’s Erin Barr had 17 assists and three kills to lead her team to a convincing three-set sweep of Raleigh Charter on Saturday afternoon for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 1-A volleyball championship at Reynolds Coliseum on the N.C. State campus.
Starmount had little trouble in rolling to victories of 25-10, 25-14 and 25-15.
Barr, a 5-8 senior setter, was named the Most Valuable Player of the championship.
Haley Hartman had eight kills and Hunter Welborn seven for the Rams, who finished the season 27-6. Starmount won its fourth NCHSAA state volleyball crown in five finals appearances, with previous titles in 2003, ’04 and ‘10.
Joanna Powers led Raleigh Charter with 11 kills. The Phoenix, who had an 11-match winning streak snapped, finished the season 21-4 overall.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
38TH ANNUAL STATE VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Reynolds Coliseum, North Carolina State University
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP
Boonville Starmount def. Raleigh Charter 25-10, 25-14, 25-15
CLASS AA CHAMPIONSHIP
Hendersonville (23-5) def. Trinity Wheatmore 25-20, 26-24, 22-25, 25-21
CLASS AAA CHAMPIONSHIP
Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons def. China Grove Jesse Carson 25-19, 25-13, 26-24
CLASS AAAA CHAMPIONSHIP
Raleigh Wakefield def. Cornelius W.A. Hough 25-22, 25-19, 20-25, 25-22
