By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
WILLIAMSTON — It was business as usual for the Williamston Tigers.
Coach Herbie Rogers watched his Tigers post their second consecutive 3-0 sweep in Tuesday’s second round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A state volleyball playoffs. Williamston (17-6), the top seed out of the Atlantic Conference, took command early and never relented in a 25-13, 25-22, 25-12 victory over the Cape Hatteras Hurricanes (11-8), the second seed from the Tideland Conference.
Rogers attributed a strong service game in leading to Williamston’s success.
Williamston will return to the court for Thursday’s third-round district game at 6 p.m. against the Manteo Redskins (23-1), who advanced with a win over Gates County. Manteo, the top seed from the Albemarle Conference, beat Williamston twice during the regular season.
Rogers is hoping playing at home will help.
That certainly looked to be the case Tuesday. Williamston set the tone with an early 9-0 run in the first game, capturing a 12-3 advantage thanks to strong net play by Erin Bowen and Harris Shepherd.
The lead grew to 18-6 on a Katie Paschal kill, one of 10 kills that the junior put down on the evening.
Cape Hatteras never threatened. A smack by Jessica Clemmons ended the game for a 1-0 Williamston lead.
Paxton Gwin did everything she could to keep the Hurricanes in the match, as she played a superb second game. Even with 12 kills, the ultra-athletic Gwin couldn’t lead her team to victory.
The Tigers took an early 7-2 lead, but Gwin led a spirited rally. She had three kills during a 4-0 run that gave the Hurricanes a 21-17 lead. Rogers knew his Tigers would have to contend with the Hurricane leaper.
After Cape Hatteras took a 22-18 lead, the Tigers mounted a serious charge by scoring the final seven points. A Shepherd tip seemed to ignite her squad. Kirsten Taylor’s ace evened the game at 22. Bowen’s smash made it 24-22, while Heather Jackson’s tip ended it for a 2-0 lead.
Cape Hatteras gained the early momentum in the third game as a Gwin kill gave the Hurricanes a 6-4 lead. However, Paschal began to dominate at the net and the Hurricanes couldn’t find an answer.
Led by three Paschal kills and another by Bowen, the Tigers used a 10-1 run to take a 16-8 advantage. Cape Hatteras never got closer than eight points the rest of the way. Taylor’s serve ended the match to give Williamston its second shutout victory.
Seahawks fall in three to Pirates
By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
CHOCOWINITY — After spiking their way through the early portion of the postseason, the Seahawks’ quest for a state title came to a screeching halt on Tuesday as they fell 25-20, 25-17, 25-17 to Perquimans in the second round of the NCHSAA 1-A playoffs.
Heading into the match, Southside (15-10), the second-seed team from the Atlantic Conference had won nine straight sets, but Tuesday it could not overcome the Pirates’ (No. 3 seed, Albemarle Conference) duo of Quinyaetta Pettaway and Becky Martin.
Equipped with good height and athleticism, Pettaway and Martin took control of the net for most of the night and gave Perquimans a big advantage up front.
The play of Pettaway and Martin was no surprise to the Seahawks, who had played Perquimans twice this season and lost both times.
But what was not expected was the amount off errors by the Seahawks, who had been playing flawless volleyball the past few games.
Southside’s minimized its mistakes in the first match and after a Caitlin Bogart ace tied the Pirates at 12.
Perquimans recaptured the lead, and after back-to-back aces by Jordan Copeland held an 18-14 advantage.
Martin made the difference down the stretch, as she tallied a few late kills to lead her team to a 25-20 win.
Southside’s Mandi Harding and Daneilya Whitney did their best to challenge the Perquimans hitters, but had trouble getting their spikes past them on a consistent basis.
While the first game was well played by both sides, Southside fell apart in the second match as they allowed the Pirates to go on a 15-2 run, which ended with the Seahawks being down 18-5.
The Seahawks fought hard in the third match, and at one point was tied at nine with Perquimans. However, Southside could not take the next step and grab the lead.
From that point on Perquimans was able to stay out in front, and rode the backs of Martin and Pettaway to a 25-17 win.
After the game, Pruden said she was proud of the way her team played this season.