Charlotte Latin wins 7th straight volleyball title

Charlotte Latin volleyball coach Suzie Pignetti said once you win a state championship, it makes you hungry for more.

The Hawks, a No. 2 seed, won their seventh straight N.C. Independent Schools’ state title at Wesleyan Academy Saturday, beating No. 1 seed Cary Academy in four games. It was the second straight year the Hawks (31-3) beat Cary Academy (35-3) in the championship round.

“It’s always an honor to win a state championship, no matter what kind of team you have,” said Pignetti, whose team lost the first game 26-24 before winning the last three 25-16, 25-22 and 25-14. “And it seems like once you win one, you’re hungry to win more. It doesn’t make easier necessarily because you always have other teams gunning for you and playing harder against you. That was the case last year and this year. Cary is a tough team and has a couple of Division I college recruits.”

Charlotte Latin senior setter Delaney Dalton and sophomore outside hitter Eve Davis were named to the all-state team. Davis had a career-high 30 kills in the match. Dalton had a career-high 43 assists. Freshman outside hitter Kellie Williams had 10 kills. Libero Morgan Henry had 27 digs.

Charlotte Latin got to the finals with a 3-0 win over Hickory Rige (25-14, 25-20 and 25-17) and a semifinal win over host Wesleyan Academy (25-21, 25-22, 25-15).

Pignetti, who won six state championships at rival Charlotte Country Day, won her 13th championship Saturday. She’s coached for 34 seasons.

“Our girls had more heart today and I think we wanted it more,” Pignetti said. “It was a wonderful effort and I’m so proud of them.”

-- Southlake Christian won the 2A state title, beating Asheville Christian 3-1. Southlake ends the season at 25-5.