State volleyball roundup: Carson falls in 3A finals

CARDINAL GIBBONS SWEEPS JESSE CARSON IN NCHSAA 3A VOLLEYBALL FINAL
            RALEIGH-- Middle blocker Haleigh Nelson was a force as Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons won its fourth consecutive North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 3-A volleyball championship on Saturday afternoon at Reynolds Coliseum on the N.C. State campus.
            Gibbons swept China Grove Jesse Carson in three straight by 26-24, 25-18 and 25-20.
            Nelson, who will continue her career at the University of Wisconsin, was named the championship match Most Valuable Player. The 6-3 senior recorded 12 kills and the Crusaders also got excellent play from freshman Briley Brind'Amour, who had 15 kills. Junior libero Biance Gartner had 13 digs for the winners.
            Senior middle hitter Amiee Cloninger had 12 kills for Jesse Carson and setter Michaela White was credited with 16 digs.
            Gibbons finished the season 21-3 and improved its mark in NCHSAA volleyball finals to 7-1. Carson, making its first trip ever to the championship and seeking its first state team title in any sport, ended its best year ever at 35-4.


NORTH SURRY OUTLASTS SOUTH GRANVILLE IN DRAMATIC 2A FINAL
             RALEIGH-- Junior middle hitter Malaya Johnson was named the Most Valuable Player as she helped lead North Surry to a dramatic five-set victory over South Granville for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 2-A volleyball championship at Reynolds Coliseum on the N.C. State campus.
            North Surry seemed to be in command, taking the first two sets 25-19 and  26-24, before South Granville stormed back to even the match with 25-19 and 25-16 victories. But the Greyhounds prevailed in the decisive set, finally winning 19-17.
            Johnson had 12 kills and 12 blocks for the winners while Kristina Rumplasch added 11 kilds. The Greyhound Abby Golding was credited with 21 digs.
            Senior outside hitter Mary Catherine Preddy led South Granville with 18 kills and Logan Bradshaw added 10.
            North Surry finished the year at 33-2 and was in the championship match for the third time. The Greyhounds had beaten Hillsborough Cedar Ridge for the 2009 2-A title and were the state runners-up back in 1988. South Granville, in its first volleyball championship, wound up 22-6.


NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
37TH ANNUAL STATE VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Reynolds Coliseum, North Carolina State University

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

CLASS AA CHAMPIONSHIP
North Surry def. South Granville 25-19, 26-24, 19-25, 16-25, 19-17

CLASS AAA CHAMPIONSHIP
Cardinal Gibbons def. Jesse Carson 26-24, 25-18,