Southern Wayne senior Allya Segura serves to an opponent during a recent match. She, along with Charity Van Dyke, qualified for the NC High School Athletic Association 3A east regional doubles tournament. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne senior Charity Van Dyke returns a two-handed backhand shot to an opponent during a recent match. She, along with Allya Segura, qualified for the NC High School Athletic Association 3A east regional doubles tournament. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
SMITHFIELD — Charity Van Dyke is headed back to the eastern girls’ tennis regional.
This time, the Southern Wayne sophomore has a partner — Allya Segura.
The duo qualified for the NC High School Athletic Association Class 3A East Regional with a sixth-place finish in the Quad County 3A Conference tournament Wednesday afternoon.
Seeded No. 6, Van Dyke-Segura opened play with a 6-2, 7-5 triumph over Smithfield-Selma’s tandem of Amiya Richardson-Lillian Mizner. They dropped a 6-1, 6-3 decision to eventual regional runner-up Zoe Mitchell-Emory Skinner from Fike.
With four regional berths — all singles — determined on Tuesday, the doubles spots remained undecided.
Van Dyke-Segura bounced back to defeat South Johnston’s Brittany Badgett-Kira Kelly 6-1, 7-6 (6). The victory secured a trip to the regional scheduled for Oct. 20 at NC Wesleyan University in Rocky Mount.
“I am so excited that Charity and Allya are representing Southern Wayne at the tennis regionals again,” SW head coach David Van Dyke said. “They were ranked No. 6 [in the bracket] and battled hard to become one of the six conference regional doubles teams [qualifiers.]
“We are grateful to the teammates who came to cheer them on and to the team manager, Bryan Lopez, who came along to experience today’s consolation match. Hopefully, next week, we can tweak a couple of things taken from the tournament and be ready to compete at Wesleyan.”
The Saints’ Kylie Hyde and Cara King each fell in first-round singles action on day one. Doubles mates Amy Lemus and Juliana Leon also fell during first-day competition.
Spartans turn back Rebels
ROSE HILL — Union entered halftime with a two-goal advantage and eased past North Duplin, 4-2, in their Carolina 1A boys’ soccer encounter Wednesday evening.
Logan Wood tallied a goal and one assist for the Rebels. Senior Crismy Gonzalez-Vazquez scored off Wood’s assist.
ND net-minder Isaias Santos Santander logged 17 saves.
The Rebels (4-8-2 overall, 2-5-1 Carolina 1A) return home Monday for senior night against Rosewood. Kickoff is 6 p.m. at H.E. Grubbs Field.
Saints knock off Demons
WILSON — Jy’Asha Cousins held her own personal block party during Southern Wayne’s 27-25, 14-25, 25-23, 25-21 triumph over Quad County 3A volleyball foe Fike.
Cousins posted seven solo blocks and eight assists for the Saints, who earned their first-ever regular-season sweep of the Golden Demons. The junior middle hitter also cranked out seven kills.
Senior Amya Smith contributed seven kills, six blocks and three digs. Gracie Hinson provided two kills and four digs, while senior libero Karlie Lane stuffed her stat sheet with two kills, two aces and a team-leading 17 digs.
Mylee Wiggs collected five kills and 15 digs. Ilescia Warner registered three blocks. Taylor Lee had two kills, three digs and 15 assists.
Kara Davis added two kills and nine assists.
Southern Wayne (11-9 overall, 7-6 QCC) returns home today for senior night against county rival Charles B. Aycock. It’s the regular-season finale for both teams.
