Prep roundup: Tigers notch first ECC volleyball win of season

WARSAW — James Kenan served 19 aces as a team during its 25-15, 25-11, 25-15 triumph over East Central 2A volleyball rival Kinston inside Harmon Gym on Thursday evening.

Alayjah Wright served up a team-high five aces, followed by Y’Anna Rivers and Jourdan Joe with four apiece. Maddison Fields delivered three aces.

Ava Jones knocked down six kills.

Rivers led the defense with three digs.

The Tigers (6-5 overall, 1-2 ECC) travel to North Lenoir next Tuesday.

Rebels escape in five sets

CALYPSO — North Duplin continued its recent dominance against Lakewood on the Carolina 1A Conference volleyball scene Thursday afternoon.

Junior libero Marissa Bernal logged a career-high 30 digs during the Rebels’ 25-18, 20-25, 25-17, 22-25, 15-6 victory. She also served three aces and pounded out four kills during the five-set affair.

Setter Lilly Fulghum stuffed her stat sheet with 18 assists, 10 digs, three kills and two aces. Eva Quintanilla supplied a team-high eight aces, cranked out five kills and posted two blocks.

Tateyawna Faison recorded five kills and three blocks. Maggie Brown logged three kills and four digs. Sister Abigeal Norris Brown notched a team-leading seven kills.

Iala Overton served three aces and had six digs. Carrly Strickland ended the night with seven digs and three aces.

North Duplin collected 27 kills, 69 digs and 20 aces as a team.

The Rebels have won four of their last five meetings against the Leopards, who lead the series 27-6-1 since 2009.

North Duplin (6-4 overall, 1-1 Carolina) returns to action Sept. 17 at Union.

Saints, Cougars duel

GOLDSBORO — Junior Charity Van Dyke earned player-of-the-match accolades during Southern Wayne’s 7-2, non-conference loss against Goldsboro on Thursday evening.

The Saints’ No. 1 seed, Van Dyke triumphed 6-1, 6-2 in singles play. She and doubles mate, junior Ameya Randolph, squeaked out a 9-8 (5) win at No. 1 doubles.

Fifth-seeded Isly Cabrera Carrera endured a hard-fought 6-4, 6-4 loss at No. 5 singles. Meanwhile, the No. 2 doubles of junior Kyle Hyde and junior Yeimi Sanchez Martinez played strong in an 8-6 setback.

The teams played on the historic John Allen Farfour Courts at Herman Park.

Southern Wayne (1-6 overall) returns home Sept. 16 to face West Johnston.

Panthers handle Gators

SEVEN SPRINGS — Traditional girls’ tennis powerhouse East Duplin remained unbeaten with a doubleheader sweep, 6-0 and 9-0, over Spring Creek on Thursday afternoon.

The Panthers earned their seventh and eighth shutouts of the season. In nine matches, they have surrendered just one singles point.

Spring Creek (0-8 overall) returns home Sept. 18 against Neuse Six 2A opponent Wilson Beddingfield.

Match 1

East Duplin 6, Princeton 0

Singles: No. 1 — Isla Miller (ED) d. Kennedy Dalton (SC), 8-3; No. 2 — Maggie Ray Bradshaw (ED) d. Emilia West (SC), 8-0; No. 3 — Katelyn Jones (ED) d. Emma Scott Hardy (SC), 8-1; No. 4 — Kate Miller (ED) d. Kylie Compropst (SC), 8-0; No. 5 — Anastan Holley (ED) d. Heather Alexander (SC), 8-1; No. 6 — Hailey Maready (ED) d. Eva Kate Davis (SC), 8-0.

Note: Doubles not contested.

Match 2

East Duplin 9, Spring Creek 0

Singles: No. 1 — Miller (ED) d. Denton (SC), 8-1; No. 2 — Bradshaw (ED) d. West (SC), 8-0; No. 3 — Jones (ED) d. Hardy (SC), 8-0; No. 4 — Miller (ED) d. Compropst (SC), 8-0; No. 5 — Holley (ED) d. Alexander (SC), 8-0; No. 6 — Maready (ED) d. Davis (SC), 8-0.

Doubles: No. 1 — Miller-Bradshaw (ED) d. Denton-Hardy (SC), 6-0; No. 2 — Miller-Holley (ED) d. Compropst-Davis (SC), 6-0; No. 3 — Jones-Holley (ED) by walkover.

Saints run at Hunt

WILSON — Southern Wayne’s Egan Hine recorded the team’s best individual time during a Quad County 3A cross-country meet ran at Wilson Hunt.

Hine ran the 5k course in 24 minutes, 21 seconds.

Carlos Martinez crossed the line in 25:33, while Ricki Lopez finished the course in 26:33.

You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.