Gibbons volleyball gets title shot

Cardinal Gibbons denied Pitt County Conley its third straight trip to the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A volleyball championship match Tuesday night with a 3-0 victory in front of a packed house at Conley.

The 25-20, 25-23, 25-10 victory sends the Crusaders to Saturday's 5 p.m. title match at N.C. State against 27-1 West Henderson, which advanced with a four-set win over Charlotte Catholic.

"It was an unbelievable atmosphere," Gibbons coach Jim Freeman said. "The gym was packed, and it was a very emotional match."

Too emotional, according to Freeman.

"We were just jacked up two much," he said. "We didn't play controlled volleyball until the third set. But Conley played extremely well."

Gibbons grabbed the early lead in the first set behind the serving of 6-foot sophomore Madison Bugg, who had six aces among her first nine service points.

The Crusaders led 9-4 in the second set but the match was tied 23-23. Christina Dorismond had a kill for a Gibbons' lead and Conley served out of bounds to end the set.

"I talked to my team more firmly after the second set and we came on to play a controlled game in the third set," Freeman said.

Both teams are volleyball powers. Conley won the state 3-A championship in 2007 and lost in the final last year. Gibbons lost in the 2-A final last year, it moved to 3-A this season, and has one of the state's strongest volleyball traditions.

The Crusaders are now 23-1, including a loss in a California tournament. Conley finished 25-3.

Enloe eliminated: Greenville Rose's volleyball team is ranked No. 15 in the country in one poll, and Enloe coach Branden Green saw why as the Rampants claimed a 25-19, 25-12, 25-20 victory over his Eagles in the Eastern 4-A championship game.

"They are very good," Green said. "They forced us into errors we haven't made all season.

"We didn't play our best game of the year, but we certainly didn't play poorly either. Rose was outstanding."

Green was proud of his club. He said no Enloe volleyball team had ever advanced past the second round of the volleyball playoffs.

The Eagles (23-3) did it the hard way, going on the road to defeat Apex and avenge three losses to previously unbeaten Wakefield.

"It was a special season," he said. "Getting to the state semifinals is nothing to be ashamed of."

Green lauded the work of his seniors, Anna Moore, Elena Frac, Cameron Motsinger, Gabby Gilbert and Christina Nacewicz.

"They are the ones who did it," Green said.

NCHSAA soccer: Undefeated Durham Jordan got goals from Cain Nolan and Joaquin Del Rossario as it safely advanced through the first round of the NCHSAA 4-A boys soccer playoffs with a 2-0 victory over Wakefield.

The Falcons are now 20-0.

Jordan will play Fuquay-Varina (17-4-1), a 3-2 winner over Leesville Road, in the second round.

Broughton, the Cap Seven regular-season and tournament champion in the Cap Seven, slipped past Athens Drive 1-0 on a goal by Bjorn Johnsen.

The 19-2-3 Caps will play the winner of tonight's game between Lumberton and East Chapel Hill in the second round.

Apex (16-5) had an easy time with Northern Durham, claiming a 4-0 victory. Park McNeeley had a pair of goals in the win.

Sanderson's Scott Glenn scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Middle Creek.

The Spartans will play the winner of tonight's game between West Johnston and Green Hope.

New Hanover eliminated Harnett Central 2-0.

Carrboro tennis advances: Carrboro won two of three doubles matches to claim a 5-4 win over Pittsboro Northwood and advanced to the Eastern 2-A dual-team tennis semifinals.

Carrboro's Alyssa Shuster won at No. 1 and teammates Sandra Anton and Jessica Malette won at Nos. 4 and 5 in singles while Northwood's Claire Pauley, Catherine Schachtman and Jacqu Mooren won at Nos. 2, 3 and 6.

Carrboro won Nos. 2 and 3 doubles for the victory.

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