HAWKS MOVE ON: North Lenoir Defeats Heidi Trask, Sets Rematch With Manteo
North Lenoir's postseason journey continued in thrilling fashion as the No. 14-seeded Hawks swept No. 19 Heidi Trask 3-0 on Thursday afternoon, advancing to the second round of the NCHSAA 2A Volleyball Playoffs. With this win, North Lenoir (16-3) sets up a highly anticipated rematch against No. 3 seed Manteo, who ended the Hawks' playoff run last year on North Lenoir's home court.
The Hawks took control from the first serve, defeating Heidi Trask with set scores of 25-20, 25-14, and 25-17. The victory was an intense battle, despite what the final score might suggest. Trask, a fundamentally sound and scrappy squad, pushed the Hawks through every set. However, North Lenoir's firepower and resilience proved too much for the Titans (13-9).
Outside hitter Lakyn Whitley led the charge for North Lenoir, dominating at the net with 19 kills and adding 7 digs. Whitley came through in the clutch multiple times, delivering critical kills to put an end to long, competitive rallies that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats.
Senior setter Alyssa Hatcher showcased her versatility, dishing out 17 assists while also contributing 7 kills and 7 digs. "This is the playoffs, this is it for us," Hatcher said after the win. "I went out there and did what I was supposed to, and we got the win." When asked if North Lenoir was ready for Manteo, she confidently added, "Our hitters are on right now, so I think we're going to give them a fight—and who knows!"
At the net, middle blocker Fawn Creech was a force, recording 5 blocks to stifle Trask's offense, while Alivia Whitley was strong with 4 blocks and added 10 service points to keep the pressure on. "I came to play my game," said Alivia Whitley. "This is our last year, and my attitude coming in was to do whatever I had to do."
North Lenoir, who finished second in the East Central Conference, secured their seventh consecutive playoff appearance and has reached the postseason every year since 2007, with the exception of 2016. Up next for the Hawks is a formidable challenge in Manteo (19-4), the runner-up in the Northeastern Coastal 2A/3A Conference.
The Hawks are seeking redemption against Manteo, and with their hitters firing on all cylinders, they are eager to show just how far they’ve come since last year’s heartbreaker.
Attention all local sports enthusiasts! Do you have insider information on your favorite local sports team? Submit to The Score below and let our team of experts bring it to life. Don't miss out on the chance to share what happened at your local sporting event - submit now and become part of the story!
Neuse News Sports is a locally-owned small business startup in downtown Kinston. Our goal is to cover all schools, all sports, and all athletes in Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties.
We provide this free sports news by having supportive advertisers and we encourage you to click on their ads, shop with them, and eat with them. Every bit of financial support is important to help us sustain free, hyper-local sports news.
Please consider supporting Neuse News Sports with as little as $5 one-time or via a monthly option. Every little bit helps us, help you.
