“I never would have thought that,” Schoenrock said this week.
But Schoenrock and the Eagles came together, peaked at the best possible time and did win the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association’s 2A state championship, defeating Asheville Christian 3-1 in the final. Schoenrock and teammate Kayla Summer were named all-state, and since all but onestarter has returned from last year’s team, there’s a different mentality at SouthLake this fall. The Eagles are defending champions.
“It definitely gives us confidence,” says Summer. “We definitely trust our coach, and we trust each other, too. We know we’ll work hard and pull together.”
But the Eagles are also now in the NCISAA’s largest classification for volleyball: 3A. So to repeat as champions, they will have to beat larger schools.
The Eagles are 8-0 entering Friday’s rematch with state runner-up Asheville Christian, though it may be the postseason before they see many teams in their division. But SouthLake coach Rachel Noreika likes the group she sees getting better.
“Youth and energy,” she says, describing her team. “Now we’re just trying to get them to channel that energy in productive ways on the court.”
Freshman Lucy Iannarino has stepped into the setter position that former “glue” player Meghan Bentley occupied, and Noreika likes her potential....
Sandi Skidmore expects a lot from her Hough players, so even though the Huskies were 4-1 through Tuesday’s matches, Skidmore is reminded of the team’s lone loss, a 3-1 defeat to Charlotte Catholic Aug. 25.
“We just weren’t ready,” she says. “I saw a lot of things we need to work on.” The Huskies return most of last year’s team that went 17-11, upset rival Hopewell in the 4A state playoffs and reached the third round. Setter Nikki Hero is leading the team with 98 assists and 14 aces. Middle hitter Julia Brown and outside hitter Kailyn Overcash have combined for 64 kills, and the
team that had no seniors last year now has six with significant experience, including Overcash, Brown, libero Kayla Tharrington and hitters Paige Zartman, Kat Kennedy and Nicole Destefano.
That’s why Skidmore is confident the early season rust will get polished off as the season wears on. “They do have the potential,” she says. “We saw it last year.” ...
The Lake Norman Charter Knights were 14-5 a year ago and reached the 1A state playoffs as a wild card team. With much of that team returning this fall, first-year coach Jeff Moran is excited about what his team can do for an encore.
“Our experience is a big help, and they just play very well together,” he says. “Our depth is probably the biggest thing. We have 12 girls who can really play.”
Outside hitter Katie Fabian is the top returning Knight. She is a multi-sport standout, and Moran is happy to have her.
“She’s really a great athlete, a great person on and off the court,” he says. “Her leadership is excellent, and she has the ability to take a game over.”
Katie Sevin is another standout. Moran says she will “set the ball where it needs to go.” The Knights began the season 3-0 and were to open play in the Southern Piedmont 1A/2A against West Lincoln and Lincolnton this week. ...
Former North Meck player Tarrah Johnson has taken the reins of the Viking program (see below). And the 2007 North graduate is pleased with the makeup of her first team, which has opened the season 4-1 a year after going 8-16.
“It’s such a team atmosphere,” says Johnson. “The girls have been playing together.” Outside hitter Madie Greer is leading the team with 14 kills. Outside hitter Emily Carmichael has nine aces, right side hitter Katelyn Granger has 13 digs and setter Jennifer Hart has 23 assists. Johnson says libero Morgan Ingraham has kept the team positive.
The Vikings’ lone loss came Tuesday in the I-Meck Conference opener against Lake Norman. ... The Davidson Day Patriots rallied from 10 points down to win a recent game, and if her team can continue to respond that way, coach Catherine Fulton will be pleased. Her Patriots began the year 3-0.
“They play together, play as a team and don’t play selfish,” says Fulton. “We’ve definitely improved our passing.”
The team is led by its lone senior, middle hitter Jasmine Hamilton, who had eight kills Tuesday against Gaston Day. Outside hitter Jeanine Grabowski added four aces and is another key player, along with outside hitter Kay Funderburk and setter/middle blocker Jessi Harris. ...
Hopewell is off to a slow start a year after going 27-4 and sharing the I-Meck title with Lake Norman. Working with essentially a new roster, the Titans lost their first five matches before beating West Charlotte 3-1 Tuesday. In comparison, last year’s Titans won their first 17 matches.
Hitter Kaila Angello leads the team in kills (18), digs (40) and aces (5), while Victoria Spaulding has a team-best 20 blocks. Setter Brooke Helton leads with 29 assists.
The Titans are short on experience, but not on height. At 6-foot-1 and 5-10, respectively, Spaulding and Angello give the Titans front line size.
Former Titan star Rachel Eppley is now attending Ardrey Kell and had 11 kills in the Knights’ win over Hopewell Aug. 18.
