Randolph County teams had encouraging moments among their results in the first week of competition for the new school year.
Boys’ soccer
** Asheboro went to Wilmington and split a pair of games.
First came a 6-2 loss to Wilmington Hoggard.
Then the Blue Comets edged Wilmington Ashley 1-0 on Juan Uscanga’s goal off Cam Letterlough’s assists.
** Wheatmore had some high-scoring adventures to begin the season.
A 4-3 loss to visiting East Davidson was followed by a drubbing of visiting North Stanly 10-1 behind three goals from Jaylen Aquillina and two goals from Carter Queen.
** Providence Grove secured a 3-2 victory against visiting Southeast Guilford.
Volleyball
Uwharrie Charter Academy won its first four matches of the season.
That included a home sweep of Chatham Charter and a road sweep at North Davidson before two victories in an invitational at Rock Hill, S.C.
** Southwestern Randolph had some long matches with mixed outcomes.
It began with a five-set home loss to Oak Grove, falling 14-25, 21-25, 25-16, 27-25, 15-11.
Gracie Hodgin notched 22 kills and Maddie Baker supplied 29 assists for Southwestern Randolph.
Then in neutral-site competition, the Cougars had varied results.
Southwestern Randolph fell in four sets to West Forsyth and dropped a five-set decision to Carrboro. The Cougars managed to top tournament host East Chapel Hill in four sets.
** Wheatmore, under first-year coach Michelle Hinson, lost its opener at Chatham Central and then fell at Asheboro before defeating visiting East Davidson.
Girls’ tennis
Asheboro posted early success, winning matches against Ragsdale and Western Guilford.
