Southwestern Randolph’s Riley Key, left, and Madelyn Smith go up for a block against Randleman in the PAC Tournament championship match. Randleman’s Camden Scott, right, waits at the net. (Scott Pelkey/Randolph Record)
ASHEBORO – Southwestern Randolph’s volleyball team swept to the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament championship.
The regular-season champion Cougars defeated visiting Randleman 25-15, 26-24, 25-23 in Wednesday night’s tournament final.
Southwestern Randolph (22-4) goes to the Class 2-A state playoffs on an 11-match winning streak.
Randleman (16-7), which was the third seed for the PAC Tournament, lost for the third time this season to the Cougars.
Southwestern Randolph swept fourth-seeded Trinity in the semifinals. Randleman withstood second-seeded Uwharrie Charter Academy in five sets to advance to the final. Haley Hinshaw’s 25 digs and 15 kills, Camryn Vickery’s 43 assists and Karli Kennington’s 29 digs led the way for the Tigers.
Randleman began the tournament by defeating visiting Providence Grove in four sets in the quarterfinals, while Southwestern Randolph had a bye into the semifinals.
** In the Mid-Piedmont Conference Tournament at Winston-Salem, Asheboro lost to top-seeded Oak Grove in the title match.
Oak Grove, the host team, won 25-18, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23 despite Piper Davidson’s 30 digs, Lia George’s 13 kills and 13 digs, Ellen Long’s 12 kills and Emma Kate Forester’s five blocks.
Asheboro had a bye before defeating third-seeded Ledford 25-20, 25-19, 25-20 in the semifinals when Long and Sion Murrain both had 10 kills, Davidson had 22 digs and Evan Vuncannon provided 18 assists.
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Volleyball – state playoffs
Saturday’s first round
Class 3-A
No. 17 seed Asheboro (14-10) at No. 16 seed St. Stephens (15-8), 1 p.m.
Class 2-A
No. 17 seed Forbush (13-8) at No. 16 seed Trinity (16-8), noon
No. 30 seed Lincoln Charter (7-15) at No. 3 seed Southwestern Randolph (22-4), 1 p.m.
No. 21 seed Community School of Davidson (14-13) at No. 12 seed Randleman (16-7), 2 p.m.
Class 1-A
No. 22 seed Eastern Randolph (9-11) at No. 11 Hiwassee Dam (10-14), 4 p.m.
No. 28 seed Bethany Community (9-13) at No. 5 seed UCA (18-6), 5 p.m.
