Prep Roundup: PAC makes strong statement in volleyball

Trinity’s Serena Dilldine sets the ball as teammate’s Eva Porter, left, and Katelyn Hill look on during a victory last week against Jordan-Matthews. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

Piedmont Athletic Conference volleyball looked strong for most of last week.

League members went a combined 5-1 in non-conference competition prior to a rough day for Southwestern Randolph on Saturday.

The Cougars had two non-conference showdowns at home, falling in a three-set sweep to then-unbeaten East Surry and dropping a four-set match to McMichael, which also topped East Surry to improve to 12-1.

The earlier outcomes included Southwestern Randolph (11-4) taking down host Oak Grove in four sets with Madelyn Smith tallying 13 kills and 24 digs and Coley Shiflet providing 28 digs and five aces.

** Providence Grove swept host Southeast Guilford as Riley Mazzarone supplied 34 assists, Mailey Way had 28 digs and Peyton Whitaker delivered five aces. The Patriots are 4-3 in non-conference competition, with each of the setbacks to Class 3-A teams.

** Trinity’s sweep of visiting Central Davidson came with Avalynn Johnson’s 30 assists and nine digs, Sarabeth Johnson’s 15 kills and 11 digs and Kaitlyn McCoy’s 12 kills.

Trinity then took down visiting Jordan-Matthews in three sets with Karrington Batten’s 13 kills, Natalie Franko’s seven kills and four blocks and McCoy’s seven aces, seven digs and five kills among the highlights.

By week’s end, Trinity’s 10-win mark had equaled the total from each of the past two seasons.

** Uwharrie Charter Academy won against visiting Bishop McGuinness in three sets with Kenzie Hill’s 19 digs and six kills and Lizah Moore’s 13 kills and six blocks providing boosts.

** The lone loss for a PAC team came when Eastern Randolph fell at home to Asheboro in three sets.

That Asheboro/Eastern Randolph match was notable because first-year Blue Comets coach Kelly Smith is an Eastern Randolph alum.

Asheboro received 18 kills from Sion Murrain, 11 kills from Ellen Long and 24 assists and 12 digs from Anna Grace LeRoy.

The Blue Comets went on to notch their first Mid-Piedmont Conference victory by winning in four sets at home against Central Davidson. Murrain had 25 kills and 14 digs, Piper Davidson recorded 26 digs and Lia George had 15 kills and seven digs.

** Back in the PAC, Eastern Randolph won a road match at Providence Grove, while Trinity topped visiting Randleman while UCA defeated visiting Wheatmore.

Boys’ soccer

Southwestern Randolph won three games last week by a combined score of 14-2. Eight of the goals were posted by Fernando Hernandez.

The Cougars won at Providence Grove 8-2 and then at home against Trinity by 2-0 before delivering a 4-1 non-conference home victory on North Davidson.

** Randleman won twice in PAC competition, topping visiting Eastern Randolph 2-0 before ripping visiting Wheatmore 9-1.

The Tigers entered this week with a 6-4 record, already within one victory of their 2022 total with 13 games remaining on the regular-season schedule.