For now at least.

The teams split the regular season matches and the I-Meck Conference regular season title, and although it's possible Hough and Lake Norman could meet for a fourth time Saturday in the 4A state playoffs, Hough won the most important match between the two teams so far when it prevailed 3-2 in the I-Meck Conference tournament final last Wednesday at Vance.

Hough won Game 1 25-14, but Lake Norman took the next two games 25-22 and 25-21. Up 2-1 in the match, Lake Norman led the fourth game 8-1 before Hough rallied to win the school's first conference tournament championship.

"They showed a little character today, coming from behind," said Hough coach Sandi Skidmore. "That's what I needed to see."

Sophomore middle hitter Julia Brown led the Huskies' comeback. She finished with a team-best 15 kills and provided four points down the stretch of the 25-23 Game 4 win and four more in the final moments of the 15-10 win in the decisive fifth game.

"Julia was amazing, phenomenal," said Hough's Kailyn Overcash, who had 14 kills and 11 digs. "When she's a senior, she's going to be a star, not that she isn't already."

Nikki Hero had 44 assists for Hough, and Paige Zartman added 12 digs. Zartman closed the match with an ace.

Though the conference tournament win was the first for any Hough team, it wasn't the first I-Meck championship. Hough won I-Meck titles last year in boys' swimming and boys' golf and split the I-Meck crown with Lake Norman in girls' soccer.

— Justin Parker

Hough moves past rival Hopewell

The Hough volleyball team advanced in the 4A state playoffs after a 3-0 second round win over rival Hopewell Tuesday. The win, which followed a 3-0 playoff win over South Meck, pushed the Huskies' record to 25-3 and set up a third-round match with McDowell that was scheduled for Thursday. A win in that match would pit Hough against either Watauga or I-Meck rival Lake Norman in the fourth round.

Despite the shutout performance Tuesday, Hough coach Sandi Skidmore was still left wanting more out of her team.

"It wasn't one of our best (performances)," she said. "We didn't play up to our potential, I think."

The Huskies cruised through the first game, using an 11-1 run to open a 10-point lead after the Titans battled to an early 5-5 score. Hough eventually won Game 1 25-10. Hopewell again forced a 5-5 tie in the second game, but the Huskies again took control, finishing the game with a 20-6 run and winning 25-11.

Hough closed the door on the Titans with a 25-14 win in the third game. Nikki Hero led the Huskies with 28 assists while Nicole DeStefano posted seven kills and five blocks.

"They've risen to another level," Hopewell coach Rhonda Auman said of the Huskies. "They're a great team, and I wish them all the luck and hope they can bring it home for our conference."

With the loss at Hough, the Titans ended their season with a 6-19 record. Despite the challenging year, Hopewell battled its way into the playoffs before escaping the first round with a 3-2 win over 11-11 Porter Ridge last Saturday.

The Titans won the first two games 25-22 and 25-19, respectively, and prevailed in the decisive fifth game to win 15-9.

Auman dedicated the Hopewell playoff run to senior captain Kaila Angello, the Titans' only returning varsity player.

"She didn't desert us, she stuck with us through it all," Auman said. "We wanted to do it for her."

Skidmore was impressed by the fighting spirit showed by the Titans during their two playoff appearances, despite the losing record.

"They were building momentum, and those are teams you have to watch out for," said Skidmore.

—Ian Richardson

LNC wins SPC title, two playoff matches

Lake Norman Charter's domination in Southern Piedmont Conference volleyball carried into the SPC tournament last week, as the unbeaten Knights defeated the North Lincoln Knights in the championship in three games, 25-18, 25-12 and 25-11.

"Winning the conference championship in the first year in the league is something really special," said LNC coach Jeff Moran. "It's something we hadn't really discussed as a goal at the beginning of the year. But as the season went on, and we kept getting more success, it was leading up to this point.

"It's a testament to how well the girls have played all year."

The Knights, 25-0 through Tuesday's action, rode that momentum to two 1A state playoff wins this week. LNC defeated Mitchell County 3-0 in the first round and Avery County 3-0 in the second to set up a Thursday match with Hendersonville. A LNC win against Hendersonville would lead to a match with a foe from the Big Smoky Mountain Conference.

Based on the bracket's seeding priority, if the Knights advance and meet that league's champion, Murphy, they will be traveling to the westernmost part of the state for a regional final Saturday.

NM exits in 2nd round

North Meck pushed Lake Norman Tuesday, but the Vikings came up short in their second-round 4A match with their I-Meck Conference foe.

Despite North's 25-21 win in the second game, Lake Norman won the match 3-1, which included a 27-25 victory in the third game.

The Vikings finished the year 19-9 under first-year coach Tarrah Johnson, a former Viking player.

Emily Carmichael led North with 10 kills against Lake Norman, while Madie Greer had nine kills and 16 digs. Katelynn Granger added eight kills and 13 digs, and Jennifer Hart had six aces and 27 assists.

In their 3-0 win over East Gaston in the first round, Greer led North with 14 kills, while Carmichael had 11 digs. Hart had 23 assists to go with eight aces.

Pats fall in first round

Davidson Day won its first game against Halifax Academy Tuesday in the first round of the 2A private school bracket, but dropped the next two en route to a 3-2 loss.

The Patriots, seeded No. 6 for the playoffs, closed the season 13-4.

Davidson Day earned a share of the Southern Piedmont Athletic Association title this season.

— Staff