Girls Volleyball
Hoggard 3 Laney 0 (25-18, 25-23, 23-20)
In an early Mid-eastern conference test for Coach Ron Strickland’s Vikings, the Laney Bucs showed that they would be a tough out against their cross county rivals. Despite a well played match, Hoggard just had too much firepower. Junior Cassidy Stephenson brought the intensity for the Vikings in game one after scoring on five consecutive serves for the 25-18 win.
Early in game two, the Vikings dominated play but Ruby Sutton’s Lady Bucs went on a 5 point run to make the score 16-13, Hoggard. Following a timeout, electricity ran through the crowd as the intensity in the building brought up the volume a decibel level, or two. The well coached squads traded blows with Hoggard eventually edging out Laney 25-23. Again, Stephenson was there to put the game away with the final point. “It was a really tough match, we just beat ourselves up at crucial moments,” said Laney asst coach Seneca Redwood-Sawyer.
The energy quickly vacated the arena after the crucial game 2 loss, and the experience of last year’s NC East Region champs and 4-A State Finalist put the match away in game 3, 25-20.
Hoggard (7- 1) overall, (1-1) conference Laney (6-4) overall, (1-1) conference
Next up: Hoggard @ Ashley Thursday 9/20. Laney @ Greenville Rose Tuesday 9/25.
Ashley 3 Rose 1 (21-25, 25-16, 25-22, 25-18)
In what may be a preview of a conference tournament playoff match, the Rampants of Rose traveled to Ashley Tuesday to take on the Lady Eagles. After losing Gm 1, 21-25, Coach Larry Salefsky’s squad responded with a 25-16 win in Gm 2. With the score tied 10-10 in Gm 3, Ashley called a timeout to regain focus and the momentum of the match. The two teams battled to the final point of Gm 3 25-22, Eagles. Game 4 went to Ashley 25-18 to secure the victory.
Ashley (9-3) overall, (2-0) conference Next up: Ashley @ Hoggard, Thursday 9/20
Topsail 3 Richlands 0 (25-8, 25-9,25-9).
Topsail (11-3), (6-0) conference @ Swansboro Thursday
New Hanover 2 South Brunswick 0
Goals: Ricardo Olivares (2) Assists: Chris Davis Skyler DeYoung
New Hanover was able to control the flow of the first half and scored two quick goals in the shutout over South Brunswick. The Cougars responded in the second half and had the Wildcats on their toes in the as Ryan Dail hit the crossbar on a shot that bounced off the line. “There’s no doubt that they outplayed us in the first half, but we responded well as a club and momentum seemed to go our way later on in the match,” said S Brunswick coach Pat Lawson. “Overall, it was a tough loss, but I’m happy with the way we looked against a strong team,” said Lawson.
Next up: New Hanover(5-4) @ Laney Tuesday, 9/25
South Brunswick (4-4) @ West Brunswick Wednesday, 9/26
