The Hobbton Wildcat volleyball team advanced to the second round of the NCSHAA volleyball championship Saturday with a 3-1 win over East Bladen.
In the first game, both teams played fairly evenly. The lead changed several times and was tied several times. The score was knotted at 11-11, 16-16, 19-19, 21-21 and 23- 23. In that run, Miley McLamb had a kill that put the Wildcats up 24-23. Cooper Bland came up for serve. She sent one over the net and they didn’t return. The Wildcats prevailed with a 25-23 win.
The Wildcats were still celebrating game one at the start of game 2. East Bladen jumped on the Wildcats 4-1. The Eagles were up 13-5 at one point. The Wildcats were unable to catch up and went down 25-11.
Hobbton’s girls played better in game three. However, it was a lot like game one with ties at 4-4, 8-8, and 10-10. The Wildcats were able to go up 14-11; however, the Eagles came back and went up 16-14. The Wildcats came back with four in a row with three kills. Those were credited to Zanna Hairr and two by Lola Warren. That put the Wildcats up 19-16. The Wildcats then, scored six points in a row to win 25-27. Warren was serving. There were three kills.
Coach Russell Jones credited his setter, Bland, with getting the ball to people in good spots who were getting scores.
The Wildcats got off to a good start in game four with five quick points. The Eagles came back tying at 6-6. The game went back and forth. At, 9-8, the Wildcats got five in a row to go up 14-8. McLamb was serving those points. She was credited with two aces in that rotation. The game went 1-1 for several serves. Hairr came up for serve getting five points on her serve including two aces. That put the Wildcat up 21-12. The Wildcats finished up business get a 25-13 win for the match.
The 15-6, 10-3 Wildcats traveled to Camden County on Tuesday to take on to take on the 20-5 Bruins. Due to sports deadlines, results from Tuesday’s game weren’t available by press time. See updates at clintonnc.com and the full story Saturday.