Hobbton JV player Reece Holland gets ready to put one over the net during a home game against Goldsboro Wednesday. The JV lost. Holland had an assist in the game. (David Johnson/Sampson Independent)

slideshow

Casey Hobbs and Michaela Wilson work together to keep the ball in the air during the Lady Wildcats win over Goldsboro Wednesday. Hobbs had 3 aces, 4 kills and an assist in the game; Wilson had 2 aces 2 kills and 2 assists. (David Johnson/Sampson Independent)

slideshow

McKenna Smith sends one back over the net. She had 3 aces and 4 kills in the game against Goldsboro. (David Johnson/Sampson Independent)

slideshow

Hobbton coach Russell Jones, in background, assesses his varsity team's play as Michaela Wilson goes up to get the ball during Wednesday's game against Goldsboro. (David Johnson/Sampson Independent)

slideshow

Hobbton’s Wildcats split with Goldsboro Wednesday night, with the JV falling in three and the varsity capturing its second win of the young season, this time sweeping the match in three sets.

The JV team, coach Russell Jones said, came out hot, with powerful serves that helped them win the first set 25-16.

“They were playing great,” Jones said of his younger Wildcats, “but they must have used all that great serving up in the first game. In the last two, they just lost the serve, and even though they were still playing pretty good, without the serve, they weren’t able to rack up the points we needed.”

In the end, Goldsboro took the final two sets, 22-25 and 13-25 to get the win.

Leading the way for the JV were Melissa Gallegos, 2 aces; Haley Martinez, 9 aces; Kaylee Matthews, 5 aces, 1 kill; Reece Holland, 1 assist; Joanna Hinson, 3 aces, 1 assist and 1 kill; Royce Jackson, 2 aces; and Carlie Oates, 1 kill and 1 assist.

The JV moves to 0-2 on the season.

The varsity got its second win of the week, winning three straight sets against Goldsboro, 25-21; 25-17; and 25-20.

“Goldsboro is a very athletic team and we could never just put them away. They kept coming back, but we were able to maintain the lead, and that’s what counts,” Jones said.

Taylor Bowden had a good game Wednesday, with 13 aces; 5 kills and 13 assists. Other leaders for the ‘Cats included Marcie McLamb, 1 ace, 2 kills and 1 assist; Casey Hobbs, 3 aces, 4 kills and 1 assist; Michaela Wilson, 2 aces, 3 kills and 2 assists; Haley Evans, 1 assist; McKenna Smith, 3 aces and 4 kills; Courtney Phipps, 2 aces; and Ray Ann Eldridge, 1 ace.

Wednesday’s win moves the varsity record to 2-0. They return to their home court Thursday for a game against North Duplin. The JV game begins at 4:30 followed by the varsity.

Hobbton returns seven seniors to its varsity squad this season, three of them starters. Jones said his team was beginning to gel as a unit and he thought they were doing a “pretty good job in covering” right now.

“Overall we are doing what we need to do to get the wins,” the coach said.