North Duplin senior middle hitter Tateyawna Faison, left, shares a laugh with teammates Melany Sanchez (12) and Maggie Brown (3) during a game earlier this season. Faison had 10 blocks in the Rebels’ three-set win over Spring Creek on Thursday. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — Tateyawna Faison posted yet another all-around floor performance to help lead North Duplin past Spring Creek 25-18, 25-16, 25-8 on the volleyball court Thursday evening.
Faison provided 10 kills, three blocks and five digs. The senior middle hitter committed just two errors and filed a .333 hitting percentage against the Gators.
Lilly Fulghum flirted with a triple-double — 16 digs, 12 assists and eight service aces.
Eva Quintanilla supplied five kills and four aces. Maggie Brown collected three kills. Ady Spence registered four digs and dished out two assists.
Libero Marissa Bernal — again — emerged as the defensive leader with 24 digs. The junior recorded 20 or more digs in a match for the third time this season and boosted her eight-match total to 147. She
Iala Overton and Carrly Strickland logged four digs apiece for the Rebels, who had 62 digs as a team.
North Duplin extended its win streak to 10 over Spring Creek with nine of those outcomes resulting in three-set sweeps.
The Rebels (5-3 overall) return home next Tuesday to face reigning Carolina 1A co-champion Neuse Charter. Spring Creek (3-7) continues its current three-game road swing the same day at American Leadership Academy of Johnston.
Saints compete
WENDELL — Southern Wayne’s Gage Lewis recorded a top-15 finish during the season-opening, Quad County 3A cross country meet contested at East Wake High School.
Lewis ran the 5k (3.12-mile course) in 19 minutes, 35 seconds.
Maneese Remedor crossed the line 21st in 21:12. Ricki Lopez logged a time of 26:28 and returnee Egan Hine completed the course in 25:56.
“[We] did well in the first meet of the year,” first-year SW head coach Brian West said. “The guys have good work ethic, which could bring a productive year in boys’ cross country.”
The Saints run again next Wednesday at Wilson Hunt.
Rams turn back Gators
SEVEN SPRINGS — Greene Central gained command in the opening half and handed Spring Creek a 3-1, non-conference loss on the soccer pitch Thursday evening.
Emanuel Rangel tallied the Gators’ lone goal off an assist from Homar Lopez.
Junior Josh Osorio notched a natural hat trick (three consecutive goals) for the Rams, who improved to 20-8-2 all-time against Wayne County opposition since 2013.
GC goalie Erick Rodriguez notched five saves.
“They are a good team,” SC head coach Miguel Torres said. “We just failed to execute our game plan.”
Spring Creek (2-5-1 overall) looks to snap a four-match skid at home Monday against J.H. Rose. Greene Central (4-3-0) visits Charles B. Aycock the same evening.
Trojans sweep Saints
DUDLEY — Traditional volleyball power South Johnston swept Southern Wayne 25-17, 25-19, 25-16 on the Quad County 3A scene Thursday evening.
The Saints (2-7 overall, 0-4 QCC) look to halt a six-match losing streak next Tuesday at conference foe Smithfield-Selma.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
