North Lenoir Pulls Out The 3-0 Win Over Rival South Lenoir

In front of a packed gym at "The Swamp," North Lenoir continued its impressive season with a decisive three-set sweep over rival South Lenoir, winning 25-16, 25-8, 25-22 in a highly anticipated volleyball matchup. The annual showdown between these Lenoir County teams has become a fixture, and this year, the stakes were high with both teams battling for conference positioning.

The Hawks, now 8-2 overall and 4-1 in conference play, have been on a tear, winning six of their last seven matches. South Lenoir came in at 8-4 (4-2 conference), just behind North Lenoir in the standings. The rivalry, dating back to 2009, has been evenly matched, with both teams splitting the previous 28 matchups. However, North Lenoir has now won three straight, further tipping the balance in their favor.

From the opening serve, the Hawks asserted their dominance. Although the Blue Devils jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first set, North Lenoir’s Alivia Whitley quickly shifted momentum with a thunderous spike, sparking a 13-6 run. Whitley’s presence at the net was undeniable throughout the night, finishing with 10 blocks and 11 service points.

North Lenoir head coach Heather Carson praised her team’s resilience and focus. “I thought we played really hard, we battled the whole time, we stayed focused,” Carson said. “We were going after everything, we were diving everywhere, and the balls just didn’t hit the floor.”

The first set, while competitive, ended with a surge from North Lenoir, capped by big plays from both Whitleys—Alivia and Lakyn. Lakyn, who finished the match with 13 kills and 10 service points, delivered a monster spike to seal the set 25-16.

South Lenoir’s standout performer, Reese Cash, did her best to keep her team in the fight. She led the Blue Devils with nine kills, three blocks, and three digs, battling at the net with Whitley and Gracie Tyndall, who also had a strong defensive showing. “We knew coming in that we were going to have to compete with Alivia,” said South Lenoir coach Madison Harvey. “Reese did a great job, and Gracie was right there with her. Our goal was to get as many touches as possible.”

Despite the close of the first set, the second belonged entirely to the Hawks. With the score quickly ballooning to 13-2, thanks to strong teamwork between both Whitley, Alyssa Hatcher (8 kills, 12 assists), and Haley Hemby (12 digs), North Lenoir cruised to a 25-8 win. The Hawks’ chemistry was on full display as they moved as one unit on the floor, something Carson said they worked on in practice. “Yesterday, we talked about moving together, being ‘jello,’ acting and moving as one,” Carson said.

The third set saw a resurgence from South Lenoir, led again by Cash. After trailing 12-6, Cash delivered a pivotal block and followed it with a kill on the next serve, helping the Blue Devils claw back to within five at 20-15. However, the Hawks were simply too much, closing out the match with a 25-22 win.

“Reese really put the team on her back in that third set,” Harvey said. “I feel like we kinda gave up after the second, but we showed back up in the third.”

Hatcher, the senior captain for North Lenoir, was crucial in distributing the ball effectively, finishing with 12 assists, while Brooklyn Payne added 11 assists of her own. Fawn Creech contributed 10 blocks, providing a solid defensive wall.

For South Lenoir, Shiloh was a force on defense with 12 digs, consistently keeping the Blue Devils in rallies. “She’s absolutely consistent,” Harvey said. “She’s a true blue libero, and we’re very dependent on her to hold down the back row.”

Despite the loss, South Lenoir showed flashes of competitiveness, particularly in the third set. However, as Harvey noted, the team struggled to maintain momentum. “We definitely competed in the first set, but after that, I think we got a little defeated. Still, I was proud of how we fought in the third,” she said.

Carson, on the other hand, couldn’t have been more pleased with her team’s effort and the leadership from her senior players. “Hailey (Hemby) was diving all over the place,” Carson said. “She came over during a timeout holding her hip, and I told her she was just going to have to go with it. She’s such a tough girl and had some really good passes for us tonight. She may not always get the credit in the stats, but she’s so important for us.”

The win keeps North Lenoir in contention in the conference, with both teams still chasing undefeated Wallace-Rose Hill. As for the rivalry, North Lenoir’s recent run has them slightly ahead in the series, now 15-14 since 2009, with three straight victories over South Lenoir.

“Alivia and Reese were like brick walls out there,” Carson added. “But I was so proud of Alivia because she kept coming right at them, and that’s the mentality we need moving forward.”

The Hawks will look to keep their momentum rolling, while South Lenoir will regroup as they continue their push in the conference race.