STANLY VOLLEYBALL: Colts, Comets reach third round of state playoffs

The volleyball teams of North Stanly and West Stanly both reached the third round of the 2A state playoffs last week.

Both teams played on the road and saw their respective seasons end with three-set losses.

Brevard 3, West Stanly 0

The Colts’ season ended Thursday in the third round to the No. 3 seeded Blue Devils (25-3) in straight sets with scores of 25-7, 25-16 and 25-21.

Stella Bondurant led West (22-7) with seven kills, adding four digs and two block assists. Saylor Edwards added six kills and a solo block, and Gracie Huneycutt, moving from defensive specialist to the front row, had six kills and seven digs.

Maycee Williams had 18 assists, nine digs and two aces, while Kelsey Parker had 13 digs.

“We went down two hitters after Tuesday night’s game due to injuries and illness,” West head coach Stephanie Dutton said. “These girls played so hard and pushed every single point.”

West graduates three seniors this season: Parker, Williams and Emma Rhodes.

The Colts also will lose their head coach Dutton, who said the past four seasons “have been nothing short of amazing. I have enjoyed watching this program grow and develop to become what it is today. Each year we pushed a little more and accomplished a little more each year.”

West has won four conference regular-season and tournament titles, having been undefeated in conference regular-season play over the same time. The Colts also have been to the third round of the state playoffs three years in a row, the furthest a West volleyball team has gone in the postseason.

“This past season has been something special,” Dutton said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a group of girls fight as hard as they did. No matter how many injuries or illnesses were thrown at us at the end of the season, these girls fought so hard to overcome each obstacle. I’ve never had a group where every single girl was all in and willing to give every ounce for the girl beside them. This was a special group of young ladies who I will miss very much. They truly gave me 100 percent every day.”

The Colts also had in the past four seasons players reach 1,000 assists (Addie Barbee last season, Williams this year), 1,000 digs (Parker) and 1,000 kills (Kayli Cleaver last season).

“I’m so proud of all the teams I’ve coached,” Dutton said.

Southwestern Randolph 3, North Stanly 0

The Comets reached the third round this season, marking the first time North has been in the third round since the 2018 1A playoffs.

North Stanly, under first year head coach Daniel Galloway, finished third in the Yadkin Valley Conference.

North’s season ended Thursday on the road to the Cougars with of 25-9, 25-12 and 25-17 in favor of the No. 2-seeded Cougars.

Shalyn Bell led North (15-11) with 10 kills while Aniston Talbert added seven kills. Kylie Speight led North with 12 assists.

“We ran into an excellent team, with the best defense we have seen all year,” Galloway said. “We were not able to get our offense running as efficiently as usual. I’m proud of how hard our team worked this year and what we were able to accomplish this season.”

North graduates several seniors this season, including Josie Talbert, Lauren Lowder, Avery Morris, Neely Ramantanin and Carolyn Vanhoy.

SportsPlus

News

Cooperative Extension will present panel on selling livestock products

News

Architects meet with Stanly County School Board to discuss options

News

Stanly Community College’s PTK named REACH Chapter

News

Albemarle High senior wins Morehead-Cain Scholarship

News

Stanly County Sports Hall of Fame to induct three

News

SNAP reader wins sweepstakes prize

News

Albemarle’s Baldwin named to Carolinas Classic All-Star Game roster

News

Scouts to have yard sale to restore hut

News

Stanly County Special Olympians, volunteers take the plunge

News

‘Celebration of the ARTS!’ returns March 22

News

Stanly County Chamber of Commerce honors residents, businesses

News

Albemarle women’s basketball season ends in road loss in Elite Eight

News

Carolina Auction Academy to host charity auction

News

Why are clocks set forward in the spring? Thank wars, confusion and a hunger for sunlight

News

Uwharrie Capital reports increased total assets

News

FOREST SERVICE: Rain helps contain fires in national forests

News

Author will discuss Daniel Boone in next Historical Society event

News

NC Poison Control sees increase in exposures to cannabis containing products among children

News

STATE: North Carolina could invest in crypto under bill backed by House speaker

News

Albemarle women reach Elite Eight with lopsided home win versus Uwharrie Charter

News

New London firefighter killed in the line of duty in accident

News

Senior Center offers ‘Sweet Spot of the Morning’ workshop

News

Walk for BBSOAS planned in Locust

News

Stanly school board votes 4-3 to redistrict students to Endy