Over the last few years, volleyball power has shifted in Beaufort County. A once stumbling Washington team has transformed into one of the area’s premier programs, while Southside’s winless season marked the worst in team history.

In head coach Kayla Maddox’s second season at the helm, it took a couple of weeks for the Panthers to find an identity, posting a 3-3 record to start the season. But eventually, players like Kendall Alligood, Brianna Swain and Ashley Patsz became comfortable in their roles, as Northside went on to close the regular season 13-3 with their only losses coming to Washington (twice) and first-place Pamlico County.

Northside’s appearance in the third round of the state playoffs was the furthest of any county team. Senior hitter Alex Adams powered the Panthers to a 3-2 win over Gates County and a 3-1 victory over Union. The Panthers were routed by the Knights in Round 3, but the deep postseason run should be a preview for great things to come next year.

For the second-straight season, Washington finished 17-8, but its 9-1-conference record was good enough to take the team’s first Eastern Plains Conference title. Led by EPC Player-of-the-Year Adriana Tyson, hitter Abby Walker, a pair of sophomore setters and a supporting cast of defensive specialists, the Pam Pack strung together a 10-game winning streak midway through the season, the most consecutive victories in a season under head coach Kelly Slade.

Despite the unprecedented success, Washington’s season ended in the second round of the playoffs once again, this time at the hands of Bunn in four games. Triple-jump state champion Tainasha Vines proved too much for the Pam Pack back line.

It was the last game for five Washington seniors, four of whom have been playing together since middle school. But with an experienced core of young players, including sophomores Briley Waters, Sarah Lynch and Meghan Moore, the Pam Pack should be set for at least the next few years.

In what was expected to be a rebuilding year for head coach Rosalyn Grimes, Southside finished 0-16 and won just four games, not what coach was expecting, even with such a young team. While some players had decent individual campaigns, the Seahawks had difficulty piecing together the group of seniors with the new faces.

It was much of the same story for Terra Ceia, which struggled to win games. But the Pungo Raiders finished at the top of the Tarheel Independent Conference, notching an 11-6 record. The strong showing earned them a No. 11 seed in the NCISAA state playoffs, where they fell to Statesville, 3-0, in the first round.

 

First Team

ADRIANA TYSON, H, SR., WASHINGTON

There were few players in eastern North Carolina that put up numbers quite like middle hitter Adriana Tyson. The Pam Pack senior leader was the heartbeat of the team, on and off the court, and took home Eastern Plains Conference Player-of-the-Year honors. Adriana led the conference in kills with 293, while also recording 46 aces, 23 blocks, 56 assists and 564 digs. Tyson has already signed her letter of intent to play volleyball at Lenoir Community College next fall.

 

ALEX ADAMS, H, SR., NORTHSIDE

Coming off a 76-kill season, Alex Adams assumed more of a role as team this year with the graduation of Alexandra Cutler. Adams was undoubtedly the most dynamic player on Maddox’s roster and led the team in kills, while also contributing on defense at times.

 

ABBY WALKER, H, SR., WASHINGTON

The second piece of the Pam Pack’s one-two punch, Abby Walker led by example, putting up numbers close to her counterpart’s. Walker was second to Tyson in nearly every offensive category, notching 220 kills, 89 blocks, 13 assists and team-best 48 aces. But she also got it done on defense, recording 403 digs when dropped back in the rotation.

 

ALLISON BRANTLEY, D, SR., WASHINGTON

An argument can be made that Allison Brantley should be considered the top defensive player in the county and the Eastern Plains Conference. Even against Bunn’s Vines in her final game in blue and white, Brantley was the only player able to get to the high-velocity kills and had no problem laying out for every ball. Brantley will be the most difficult piece for Slade to replace heading into next season.

 

SARAH LYNCH, S, SO., WASHINGTON

Tyson’s and Walker’s production was supported by the near flawless setting of Sarah Lynch, the primary setter in one of the area’s most prolific duos. Lynch led the team in assists with 307, while also notching 22 aces. The Washington sophomore was nimble around the middle of the floor this season and flourished in Slade’s system.

 

BRILEY WATERS, S, SO., WASHINGTON

She may be one of the shorter players on the Pam Pack roster, but Briley Waters regularly caught opponents off guard with her serving. Waters picked up 34 aces, but it was Waters’ 283 assists that made her first varsity season for a Pam Pack a notable one.

 

Second Team

TAYLOR MANN, H, JR., PUNGO

KENDALL ALLIGOOD, S, JR., NORTHSIDE

KELSEY LANG, S, SR., NORTHSIDE

ALEXIS BROOKS, S, SR., WASHINGTON

ASHLEY PASTZ, D, SR., NORTHSIDE

BRIANNA SWAIN, L, SR., NORTHSIDE

 

Honorable Mentions

SYMONE RUFFIN, H, FR., SOUTHSIDE

DANA WOOLARD, S, JR., PUNGO

RACHEL LANG, S, SO., NORTHSIDE

HALEY HUTCHINS, S, WASHINGTON

GIBSEN ARMSTRONG, SR., PUNGO