Local digest

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 18, 2006 2:13 PM

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WILSON -- Top-seeded Eastern Wayne fended off upset-minded Wilson Hunt 25-11, 25-11, 25-15 during semifinal-round play Tuesday in the Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference volleyball tournament.

The Warriors (14-2) oppose second-seeded Wilson Beddingfield on its homecourt today at 6 p.m. The winner secures the No. 1 seed for the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs, which begin Saturday.

The Bruins (19-4) eliminated Charles B. Aycock 25-11, 25-11, 25-15.

"We dominated them right from the beginning," said Eastern Wayne coach Bruce Burridge, who is 4-2 all-time against Hunt. "The girls came out with determination and played their butts off."

Outside hitters Brittanni Billups and Jordei Osby shared team-high honors with nine kills apiece. The duo combined for four assists and five blocks as Eastern Wayne avenged last year's semifinal-round tournament loss against Hunt.

Seniors Carly Boyette and Anna Wilkins played strong in the middle. Boyette recorded five kills, five aces and two blocks. Wilkins chipped in six kills, two aces, four assists, two digs and four blocks.

LeAnna Rothwell posted four kills, one ace, two assists and one block.

Junior setter Brooke Newsome distributed 26 assists and served three aces. Libero Anna Hajjar recorded 18 digs and four assists.

Hunt led 3-1, 8-7 and 10-9 in the third game, but couldn't put together any runs.

Shelly Lancaster, Amy Fryt and Lauren Pratt each delivered five kills in Aycock's three-set loss. The Bruins picked up their fifth win against the Golden Falcons since joining the ECC in 2005.

"We played hard ... didn't back down to them," said Aycock coach Davis Harris. "We got cranked up late in the first game and the second game we played them back-and-forth. They got lucky down the stretch with two or three balls that hit the tape and dropped over.

"Game three, we were out of synch. Had we been able to hit the ball, we'd been right there. We hit a lot out and a lot into the net."

Aycock drew the league's No. 3 seed for the playoffs and travels to Coastal champion D.H. Conley, the 2005 NCHSAA 3-A runner-up. Hunt, the No. 4 seed, is the guest of South Central.

Tigers advance

in Super 6 play

SPIVEY'S CORNER -- James Kenan advanced to the semifinals of the Super Six 1-A Conference tournament with a 25-15, 25-17, 18-25, 27-25 victory over Hobbton on Tuesday afternoon.

The Tigers oppose Union in semifinal-round action today at Midway High School.

Kendall Wolz recorded three kills. Ashanti Stroud and Stephene Williamson each contributed one kill. Kandice Helton served an ace.

Conquerors drop

NCCSA 2-A contest

ROCKY MOUNT -- Faith Christian concluded regular-season play with a 25-18, 25-13, 25-20 loss at N.C. Christian Schools Athletic 2-A Coastal Region foe Falls Road on Tuesday evening.

The Conquerors tumbled to No. 3 overall in the league and travel to Berean Christian for an opening-round NCCSA 2-A tournament game Friday. Berean swept the regular-season series.

Heather Crumpler turned in six assists, four digs, two kills and three blocks for Faith Christian. Brooke Anderson added three digs, five kills and one block. Kaitlyn Floars provided five digs, four kills and one block.

Renee Provencal dished out three assists to go along with three digs. Alyssa Hill contributed five digs, one kill and two aces.

Faith Christian is 7-4 overall.

JV volleyball

Faith Christian

denies Falls Road

ROCKY MOUNT -- Zoe Zinger handed out 14 assists in Faith Christian's come-from-behind 25-20, 23-25, 26-24 triumph over Falls Road in the N.C. Christian Schools Association 2-A Coastal Region finale for both teams Tuesday.

Zinger added six kills. Madison Caudle (11 digs) and Brittany Bell (12 digs) each pounded out eight kills.

Stephanie Stroud recorded 10 digs.

Faith Christian ended the year 6-4.