North Duplin junior setter Lilly Fulghum distributed a career-high 37 assists during the Rebels’ four-set victory at Lakewood on Tuesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
ROSEBORO — Tateyawna Faison and Lily Fulghum are re-writing the North Duplin volleyball record book this season after setting career-best marks Tuesday afternoon.
The duo helped the Rebels fend off Lakewood 21-25, 25-14, 25-15, 25-16 in Carolina 1A Conference play.
A senior middle hitter/blocker, Faison recorded 18 blocks. She surpassed her season- and career-best of nine set against Rosewood and matched against Hobbton.
Fulghum distributed 37 assists, which surpassed her career best of 31 set against James Kenan on Aug. 29. The junior setter is closing in on 1,000 career sets.
Faison cranked out nine kills. Eva Quintanilla pounded out 12 kills, while the sister tandem of Maggie and Abigeal Norris Brown combined for 16 kills.
Carrly Strickland served five aces and recorded five digs. Ady Spence contributed three aces and four digs. Iala Overton recorded two aces and seven digs.
Marissa Bernal picked up 21 digs.
As a team, the Rebels had 42 kills, 15 aces and 50 digs. They’ve won six of their last seven meetings against the Leopards, who lead the series 27-7-1 since 2009.
North Duplin (9-6 overall, 4-2 Carolina 1A) returns home Thursday for its annual cancer fund-raising game against Union. The JV game begins at 4:30 p.m. inside Kaleel Gymnasium.
SW netters halt skid
WENDELL — Southern Wayne secured victories at Nos. 1 and 2 doubles, and turned back East Wake, 5-3, in their Quad County 3A girls’ tennis match Tuesday afternoon.
The Saints’ top-seeded duo of Charity Van Dyke-Ameya Randolph prevailed 8-3 over the Warriors’ Eleanor Bernier-Amy Sparks. The No. 2 tandem of Kylie Hyde-Yeimi Sanchez Martinez triumphed 8-2 over Grace Smith-Berniece Martinez.
The teams entered doubles play tied at 3-3.
Van Dyke, Hyde and Randolph each won their respective singles match 8-0.
East Wake won at Nos. 4, 5 and 6 singles.
Southern Wayne (2-11 overall, 2-10 QCC) halted a six-match skid. The Saints continue their three-match road swing today at county rival Charles B. Aycock. The Golden Falcons are No. 2 among the East’s 3A teams in the MaxPreps RPI index.
Southern Wayne 5, East Wake 3
Singles: No. 1 — Charity Van Dyke (SW) d. Eleanor Bernier (EW), 8-0; No. 2 — Kylie Hyde (SW) d. Kayley Rodriguez (EW), 8-0; No. 3 — Ameya Randolph (SW) d. Evelyn Juarez-Reyes (EW), 8-0; No. 4 — Grace Smith (EW) d. Yeimi Sanchez Martinez (SW), 8-5; No. 5 — Amy Sparks (EW) d. Sabrina Leon Bohorquez (SW), 8-2; No. 6 — Esmerelda Martinez (EW) d. Ilsy Cabrera Cabrera (SW), 8-1.
Doubles: No. 1 — Van Dyke-Randolph (SW) d. Bernier-Sparks (EW), 8-3; No. 2 — Hyde-Martinez (SW) d. Smith-Martinez (EW), 8-2.
Note: No. 3 doubles not finished.
Gators easily cage Bulldogs
SEVEN SPRINGS – Spring Creek continued its unbeaten start on the Neuse Six 2A boys’ soccer scene with a 3-0 conquest of Princeton on Tuesday evening.
Senior Emanuel Rangel collected two goals for the Gators, who improved to 2-0-0 in league matters this season. Sophomore Samuel Salas contributed one goal and two assists.
Senior Diego Lopez supplied two assists.
Senior net-minder Edgar Avila earned the shutout. The Bulldogs attempted one shot on goal.
Princeton keeper Conner Woodall logged nine saves in 77 minutes.
Since the Neuse Six 2A Conference started play in 2021, Spring Creek has logged 23 clean sheets (shutouts) against conference opposition. The Gators are 18-0-1 all-time against the Bulldogs.
The Gators (6-7-2 overall) return home Thursday to face Goldsboro. Kickoff is 6 p.m. in “The Swamp.”
Gonzalez, Lopez lead Rebels
SALEMBURG — Luis Avilez-Gonzalez emerged victorious and North Duplin teammate Jerrson Lopez claimed second during a Carolina 1A boys’ cross country meet ran at Lakewood Country Club.
Gonzalez, the reigning Carolina champion, ran the 5k course in 18 minutes, 31 seconds. Lopez crossed the line in 18:44. The duo helped the Rebels edge non-conference invitee Heide Trask, 48-49, in the team portion of the meet.
Rosewood junior Gage Lewis ended up third in 19:14.
Trask’s tandem of Isaiah Statley (19:23) and Elber Lopez Paz (19:37) rounded out the top five, respectively.
North Duplin sophomore Jair Quintana ended up eighth in 19:57. Sophomore Lucas Gregory (22:21) finished 18th, while senior Sam Carr took 25th in 23:18.
Neuse Charter senior Noah Highfil was ninth in 19:57.8.
Pender ended up two points behind Trask in team competition. Rosewood piled up 99 points, while Neuse Charter scored 109.
The girls’ results were not available.
You may reach Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
