North Duplin junior setter Lilly Fulghum, right, surpassed 1,000 assists for her volleyball career in a home match against Hobbton. Standing with Fulghum is Rebels head coach Heather Best. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — Lilly Fulghum is following in her mom’s footsteps.
Then known as Amy West, she played setter on the Lenoir Community College volleyball team before she transferred to Meredith College.
Lilly played, but envisioned herself as an outside hitter.
That changed when she transferred from Princeton to North Duplin. The Rebels’ starting setter had graduated, which left Heather Best in a quandary.
Who would serve as the floor general?
“I remember the first day of practice, she came to me — as a freshman — and said that she wanted to play setter,” Best said. “We did have a backup setter [from the previous year], but she just stepped right in and took the job.”
And kept it.
Admittedly, Fulghum experienced growing pains.
Her teammates had doubts, but kept them hidden.
Fulghum soon developed confidence in the 5-1 offense. Her ever-present energy, enthusiasm and competitiveness became infectious among her teammates.
“If you work hard, you can out beat anyone older, smarter or bigger than you,” Fulghum said. “I’ve learned it does not matter about your age, last name or what grade you are in. Don’t let anyone blow out your spark, and you can be better if you work hard and have the love for the sport.”
Fast forward three years.
During preseason workouts this past summer, Best talked her players about personal goals. They shared their aspirations – being a good teammate, improving a certain skill, show encouragement and contend for the conference title.
Then Fulghum spoke up.
She repeated a freshman goal.
“[I wanted] to hit 1,000 assists my junior year,” Fulghum voiced with confidence.
Could she do it?
Reece Outlaw, the team’s spiritual leader, graduated. Addy Higginbotham opted to sit out, and rest her body for basketball and her first love — softball.
That left middle hitter Eva Quintanilla.
Yet, Fulghum had no qualms that the goal remained within in reach. Freshman Maggie Brown became force at the outside pin. Senior Tateyawna Faison emerged as a double threat as a hitter and blocker in the middle.
Khloe [check last name] and Carrly Strickland, both upperclassmen, responded at key times. The backline of play from Marissa Bernal, M’Chelle Jaco and Iala Overton embraced their roles.
“It was definitely a cliffhanger all summer, but once I saw what we had to work with, I knew we would be just fine – even better,” Fulghum said. “The past few years, it was tough and a lot of drama behind the scenes. It felt nice to rebuilding the team off of good chemistry and that is why I think we played well, too, this year. We shared the love around the court and that helped us, too.
“I like the youth in our team because they will work hard to prove themselves and that’s how it should be all around.”
Best said Fulghum made the players around her better.
Her on-court IQ factored into several matches throughout the season. If one teammate seemed out of sorts offensively, she’d find a second option — sometimes a third.
Fulghum’s court hustle proved crucial. She managed to get touches on balls that kept points alive. Though she missed out on assists, her actions allowed her teammates to respond.
The historic — and long-awaited milestone — occurred during the Rebels’ senior night outing against Hobbton. Fulghum doled out a career-high 34 assists in a three-set sweep over the Wildcats.
Best lauded the accomplishment.
“I wasn’t sure … knew that she had the possibility of doing it before she graduated,” Best said. “She’s been dominant all year and blessed to have a pretty good offense up front. And without our defense, she never would have gotten this in the past.
“She is such a strong competitor, but the team had to help her get that goal.”
Fulghum helped North Duplin clinch its fifth consecutive postseason bid [minus the covid year] and 12th overall since 2006. Their 2024 campaign ended with an opening-round, three-set loss at Woods Charter.
She concluded the year with 412 assists, 129 digs, 96 service aces and 20 kills. Her career assist total is 1,051.
“I was really proud of myself for proving people wrong that told me there was no way I would do it my junior season,” Fulghum said of her feat. “I have learned a lot mentally and physically since I’ve been playing these last three years. I love how much my mom loves to see me play in the stands, how she can live through me and how I play volleyball just like she did.”
Like mother, like daughter.
You may reach Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
