One of three Southern Wayne seniors, Jy’Asha Cousins serves during a match against Goldsboro. The Saints start conference tournament play Monday at South Johnston. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
PIKEVILLE — Southern Wayne concluded its regular-season volleyball campaign with a 14-25, 25-23, 21-25, 11-25 loss at county and Quad County 3A foe Charles B. Aycock on Thursday afternoon.
Senior setter Taylor Lee stuffed her stat sheet with 18 assists, 10 digs, two blocks and two assists. Fellow senior Jy’Asha Cousins contributed 11 kills and five blocks.
Mylee Wiggs filed nine digs, six kills and two aces. Morgan Brimberry registered two kills, five aces and five digs. Jacey Hargrove notched two digs and two assists.
Jurnae Ammons posted five blocks.
The Saints (4-18 overall, 1-13 QCC) clinched the No. 8 seed and travels to regular-season champion South Johnston in quarterfinal-round play of the QCC tournament. The fourth-seeded Golden Falcons (14-8, 10-4) oppose fifth-seeded Wilson Fike.
Gators run at Cliffs
SEVEN SPRINGS — Spring Creek’s boys recorded their second perfect score (15 points) of the season during a Neuse Six 2A cross country meet held at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park.
Caleb Loftin emerged victorious by two seconds over teammate Adonis Hackett. Loftin, who has won every conference meet this season, ran the 5k course in 21 minutes, 28 seconds.
“Caleb and Adonis competed neck and neck for first place all the way to the finish line,” SC head coach Ian Combest said.
Josh Lewis (22:18) claimed third, followed by Ja’Shaun Strong (23:00) and Carter McClellan (23:26). Teammates Will Lopez (25:16) and Alex Narcia (26:10) crossed the finish line eighth and ninth, respectively.
Princeton’s Jackson Creech ended up sixth in 24:07.
North Johnston’s Jacob Talton was seventh 24:50.
On the girls’ side, Goldsboro edged Spring Creek 24-31 in team competition.
Maria Melchor logged Spring Creek’s best effort – a third-place time of 27:28. Teammate Vanessa Flores captured fifth overall in 29:37. Melissa Avila posted a top-1o time of 32:55.
North Johnston’s Haley Epps won the race in 23:25.
Goldsboro’s Jamaya Coleman finished behind Epps in 27:27.
The Neuse Six 2A Championship meet is Oct. 15 at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park.
Tigers fall to Hawks
WARSAW — James Kenan’s Shylah Sloan served three aces and posted four blocks during a 9-25, 14-25, 14-25 loss Thursday evening to East Central 2A volleyball foe North Lenoir inside Harmon Gym.
Sloan also provided one kill and one dig.
Kierra Williams contributed four kills, while sophomore Y’Anna Rivers had five kills and three digs. Aleyah Wilson delivered one kill and one dig.
Ava Jones registered two kills, one block and two digs. Alayjah Wright added one kill and two aces. Jourdan Joe (1 block, two digs), Sienna Pender (two digs) and Jazmine Lopez (three digs) also scratched on the stat sheets.
James Kenan (7-11 overall, 2-8 ECC) travels to Southwest Onslow on Tuesday and returns home Oct. 16 for senior day against regular-season champion Wallace-Rose Hill.
You may reach Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
