Led by 13 kills from sophomore Kirby Smith, Mideastern Conference powerhouse Hoggard beat Knightdale 3-0 in the first round of high school volleyball state playoffs.
Ranked third in the eastern half of the 4A bracket, the Vikings easily defeated the Knights 25-10, 25-6 and 25-18. Senior setter Logan Smith had 12 assists, and junior Camille Whitlock notched 5 aces to go along with 9 assists of her own.
Hoggard, who went 12-0 in conference play and 16-2 overall, advance to play New Bern on Tuesday night.
Box Score:
25-10, 25-6, 25-18
In the 3A bracket, Topsail, ranked 8th in the east, beat Union Pines 3 sets to 1. Sophomore Angelica Biele led the Pirates with 8 kills to go along with 15 digs. Senior libero Marlee Marrotta anchored the defense with 20 digs and added 3 aces.
Topsail finished 2nd in the Mideastern Conference with a 7-5 record (16-9-3 overall). They take on C.B. Aycock on Tuesday night.
Box Score:
25-21, 25-19, 23-25, 25-11
North Brunswick, who went 6-4 in the East Central Conference, (12-12 overall) upset fifth-ranked Farmville Central to advance to in the East half of the 2A bracket.
After losing the first set 17-25, the Scorpions took the next three by scores of 25-10, 25-19, and 27-25 to beat the Jaguars 3-1. Senior Valerie Renna led the team with 20 kills, 17 digs, 5 solo blocks and 4 aces. Senior Claire Longshore and junior Aliah Johnson had 18 assists each, while junior Kaylee Scoggins secured the defense with 20 digs.
North Brunswick, now the lowest-ranked team on either side of the 2A bracket, face the East’s 12th-ranked Eastern Randolph on Tuesday night.
Box Score:
17-25, 25-10, 25-19, 27-25
Other scores (all teams in the East half of their respective brackets):
4A
No. 5 Cardinal Gibbons No. 28 Laney 0
(25-9, 25-13, 25-16)
No. 8 Conley 3 No. 25 Ashley 0
(25-20, 25-18, 25-19)
No. 16 Apex 3 No. 17 New Hanover 0
(25-12, 25-17, 25-14)
3A
No. 2 Asheboro 3 No. 31 South Brunswick 0
(25-20, 25-21, 25-14)
No. 4 West Carteret 3 No. 29 West Brunswick 0
(25-17, 25-19, 25-18)
