volleyball

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Julie Johnston

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Julie Johnston

Southwestern Randolph  |  volleyball As the Cougars try to repeat as Class 2-A state champions, underclassmen are playing key roles. But Johnston is among the seniors on the roster. Last week, the Cougars won three matches. They took down Providence Grove in a sweep and then won a five-set match against Randleman to capture the Piedmont Athletic Conference Tournament.  Then on Saturday, the Cougars won against East Surry in the first round of the state playoffs. Johnston is a setter and outside hitter.
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Dacia Lowery

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Dacia Lowery

Uwharrie Charter Academy  |  volleyball Lowery played a role as the Eagles won two matches last week to stay in contention for the top spot in the Piedmont Athletic Conference. Lowery had 16 kills, and five blocks as UCA topped visiting Providence Grove 21-25, 25-15, 25-21, 13-25, 15-9. That was followed by UCA’s 24-26, 25-18, 25-22, 25-23 victory at Trinity when Lowery provided 11 kills and five blocks. Entering this month with two weeks in the regular season remaining, UCA held an 11-3 overall record and 6-2 PAC mark.
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Madelyn Smith

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Madelyn Smith

 Southwestern Randolph  |  volleyball   Smith helped Southwestern Randolph to two more Piedmont Athletic Conference victories last week, including in a showdown with Uwharrie Charter Academy. She supplied 20 kills, 14 digs, and three blocks in the four-set victory at UCA in a rematch of last year’s conference tournament final. Others to turn in big numbers for the Cougars in that match were Gracie Hodgin, Riley Key, Raegan LeRoy, Coley Shiflet, and Carleigh Whitson. Smith, a junior outside hitter, had ten kills and seven digs in a three-set sweep of Providence Grove later in the week. The Cougars, who are…
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ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Madison Burgiss

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Madison Burgiss

Madison Burgiss  | Trinity, volleyball Burgiss, a senior setter, has been a steady contributor as Trinity has gone on a good stretch early in the season. She helped the Bulldogs to three victories last week. It began when the Bulldogs avenged a loss to Asheboro by winning in three sets at home as Burgiss provided 28 assists. Burgiss recorded 31 assists as the Bulldogs swept Southern Guilford and then posted 21 assists in a three-set sweep of High Point Central. Teammate Karrington Batten helped finish many of the assists from Burgiss by racking up 31 kills during the week. Kaitlyn…
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Defending champ Cougars eager to see impact of changes for volleyball season

Defending champ Cougars eager to see impact of changes for volleyball season

Coley Shiflet is bound to be a key player again for Southwestern Randolph’s volleyball team. (File photo) Southwestern Randolph gears up for volleyball season after 2021 state title ASHEBORO — Southwestern Randolph’s volleyball team has a few different components this season. There will be a new offensive make-up and a key transfer with the Cougars. But one thing they don’t want to change is the rate of success. “There’s a lot of excitement in our gym,” coach Darby Kennedy said. “They want to hold onto the title and defend that title.” Southwestern Randolph is the reigning Class 2-A state champion.…
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Black returns to Asheboro volleyball team

Black returns to Asheboro volleyball team

ASHEBORO – It turns out Kim Black was pulled back to Asheboro High School volleyball after all. She’ll be in her third stint as coach of the program, where she won a state championship, when the season begins in the late summer. “I can’t make any promises except to promise to do my best,” Black said. She’s the all-time winningest coach at Asheboro, holding a 246-97 record as a varsity coach. She directed the Blue Comets to three state finals, including the Class 3-A title in 1994, and eight conference crowns. Black has made the rounds among schools in Randolph…
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It all came down to Randolph County gyms

It all came down to Randolph County gyms

Revisiting 2021 basketball title games held at Providence Grove, Wheatmore With another high school basketball season ramping up for many schools this week, it comes full circle for a couple of Randolph County schools. That’s because when North Carolina High School Athletic Association basketball left off from the 2020-21 school year, it concluded at Providence Grove and Wheatmore. Those were schools selected to hold the NCHSAA championship games as part of the revamped season, which had been shortened because of the pandemic. So suddenly the goal for teams across the state had been to make it to Randolph County. “It…
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SWR captures 2A state volleyball championship

SWR captures 2A state volleyball championship

The Southwestern Randolph Cougars hold the state championship banner after their win against Camden County Bruins in the 2A State Championship volleyball match at Valvano Arena at Historic Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, NC on November 6th, 2021. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL RALEIGH -- The Cougars of Southwestern Randolph are once again state champions in volleyball. The Cougars faced a Camden County Bruins team that was undefeated and had only lost one set all season. The Cougars started quickly at Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of NC State Saturday with a first set win. The Bruins came back to tie the…
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SWR advances to volleyball state title match

SWR advances to volleyball state title match

Southwestern Randolph’s Carleigh Whitson digs the ball against East Surry during the Class 2-A West Regional final at East Surry in Pilot Mountain on November 2, 2021. Southwestern Randolph won 3-2. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL PILOT MOUNTAIN — The Southwestern Randolph Cougars will play for the Class 2-A state volleyball championship at Reynolds Coliseum on the North Carolina State campus in Raleigh after defeating host East Surry in five sets Tuesday night. The Cougars (27-5) will face Camden County at 11 a.m. Saturday in the state final. The Cougars dropped the first set before taking a 2-1 advantage. After a…
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SWR volleyball team advances to regional finals

SWR volleyball team advances to regional finals

ASHEBORO — Southwestern Randolph dropped its first set of the state playoffs but went on to defeat visiting McMichael in the fourth round in Class 2-A on Saturday. The home-standing Cougars prevailed 22-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-21. Payton Shiflet had 23 kills, 20 digs and three blocks, Madelyn Smith had 12 kills, Josie Allred had 10 kills and four blocks, Coley Shiflet had 21 digs, Carleigh Whitson had 15 digs and Raegan LeRoy had 46 assists and seven digs. "McMichael beat us early in the season and knowing what they were capable of was helpful at times but also a struggle,"…
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