Gibbons serves up victory

2-A champions roll in volleyball

Cardinal Gibbons and Person, the defending state 2-A and 4-A volleyball champions, respectively, dominated the Great Eight tournament at the Greensboro Sportsplex this weekend.

The N.C. High School Athletic Association's four state champions and three of the four runners-up participated in the early season tournament along with Greensboro Grimsley.

In a rematch of last year's 2-A finals, Gibbons defeated West Henderson in three straight games in Friday's opening round to advance to Saturday's pool play.

The loss was only the fifth for West Henderson in the past four years. Three of the losses have been to Gibbons.

Person topped Charlotte Providence in four games in the 4-A rematch.

On Saturday, Gibbons beat Oxford Webb and Hendersonville in two straight games and split with Person, 25-18 and 24-26.

Person beat Webb, but split with Gibbons and Hendersonville to finish 4-2.

Gibbons was 5-1.

Making the all-tournament team were Katie Kabbes, Katie Camp and Cayla Shortley of Gibbons, Amanda Robertson and Meagan Tatum of Person and Bailey Hunter of Hendersonville.

Gibbons, ranked No. 38 in the PrepVolleyball.com national rankings, is at home at 6 tonight against Person, which is ranked No. 87.

CAPS SHINE IN BRITTANY: Broughton's defending 4-A boys state champion soccer team had little trouble in stopping Wilson Hunt 5-1 on Saturday in the Brittany Willis Memorial Showcase.

The Brittany field included 55 teams playing in 60 games at the J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex in Wilson.

West Johnston defeated South Johnston 3-1 in the finals of the Herald Cup competition, which was held during the Brittany.

The Herald Cup is a high school boys soccer tournament that includes most Johnston County high school teams.

West's Silvestre Mendoza was named the most valuable defensive player. South's Andrew Carroll, who scored five goals in the tournament, was the offensive MVP.

CHAPEL HILL, ENLOE ON TOP: The Chapel Hill girls and Enloe boys are ranked No. 1 in the ncrunners.com state cross country coaches poll.

The Tigers girls received every first-place vote in 4-A. Green Hope is No. 4, Southern Pines Pinecrest is No. 5, East Chapel Hill is No. 7 and Apex is No. 10

Among the boys, Chapel Hill -- led by defending state individual champion Taylor Gilland -- is second, Green Hope is third and Broughton is fourth.

Cardinal Gibbons, led by defending state 2-A champ Heather Beichner, is No. 1 in 2-A girls with Pittsboro Northwood and Durham Arts at Nos. 3 and 4.

The Gibbons boys are third behind Black Mountain Owen and West Henderson.

Durham Science & Math heads the boys 1-A list.

The complete poll is online at http://nc.milesplit.us.