Neuse News Sports Volleyball Playoff Preview: Matchups Across Wayne, Lenoir, Greene and Jones

Seven area public-school teams have their places in the NCHSAA volleyball playoffs, but the most useful comparisons go beyond the seeds.

North Lenoir and Greene Central will face opponents whose schedules were tougher than their records suggest. Rosewood draws a team it eliminated two years ago. South Lenoir brings back three all-region selections, while Goldsboro and C.B. Aycock earned first-round byes and have two possible opponents to study.

Friday’s playoff schedule includes Faith Christian Academy and Bethel Christian. Faith was scheduled to face Trinity Christian at 10 a.m. after two five-set losses to the Tigers during the regular season; the tournament result was not available at publication. Bethel hosts Woodland Baptist Christian at 5 p.m.

Here is a team-by-team look at the matchups and postseason outlook across Wayne, Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties. All times are Eastern. Individual statistics reflect reported games and may not represent a complete season.

Faith Christian Academy versus Trinity Christian

Friday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m. at Christ Covenant in the MACAA tournament.

Faith Christian Academy of Goldsboro entered its scheduled tournament matchup at 7–7 against a 9–8 Trinity Christian team from Greenville. The Tigers won both regular-season meetings, but neither was decided until the fifth set.

Faith won the opening set in both matches. On Oct. 2, the Conquerors led 2–1 before Trinity took the fourth set 25–22 and the fifth 15–11. Turning an early advantage into a completed win is the central challenge in the rematch.

The comparison against shared opponents is more encouraging for Faith. Across nine matches against seven common opponents, Faith went 6–3 and Trinity 5–4. Faith beat Jacksonville Christian in five sets; Trinity lost that matchup in four. Both beat Gramercy in five sets, swept Pamlico Christian and twice swept Christ Covenant.

Faith also has an older roster: six seniors and five juniors. Trinity lists just one senior and two juniors, with freshmen and middle-school players filling the remaining spots. Roster age does not establish how long each player has started, but it is a clear difference in the teams’ makeup.

Senior Payton Campbell recorded 52 digs in the Oct. 2 meeting. Kaylyn Kelly had 11 kills, Celainey Williams added 10 and Adriana Perry finished with 16 assists, 14 digs and four aces. Faith also recorded 16 service errors, making reliable serving another area to watch.

Trinity’s senior, Taylor-Brooke Crane, had 12 kills and 10 assists in that match. Avery Heredia added 17 assists and five aces, while Taylor Townsend had 31 digs. The Tigers are 3–0 in five-set matches this season; Faith is 3–2. Faith has already made this series closer after losing both 2025 regular-season meetings in straight sets.

Rosewood at Eno River

Saturday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m. in Hillsborough. Rosewood is No. 19 in the 2A East; Eno River is No. 14.

Rosewood’s 6–14 record trails Eno River’s 11–9, but the Eagles have a relevant piece of postseason history: they defeated the Bobcats 3–1 in the 2024 playoffs before losing a five-set match to East Wake Academy in the next round.

This year’s Rosewood roster includes seven seniors, among them libero Khiry Reese, outside hitter Addyson McKeel, setter Bella Mazura and middle blocker McCandless St. John. Eno River’s reported statistical leaders form a younger group, led by junior Johanna Jans at 2.7 kills per set and junior libero Molly Pierce with 396 digs.

Sophomore Maddie Spohr has 69 reported aces, giving Rosewood a specific service threat to prepare for. Keeping its passing stable would help the Eagles use their veteran lineup instead of spending extended stretches out of their offense.

Both teams are looking to improve on their recent results. Rosewood lost its last five matches, taking one set during that stretch. Eno River lost five of its last seven, including a five-set match against Durham School of the Arts in its latest reported outing.

Rosewood also returns players with documented production from last season: Reese had 289 digs, while Mazura had 468 assists and 223 digs in 2025.

Eno River reached the third round last season after beating Pamlico County. The winner Saturday advances to face No. 3 Perquimans County on Oct. 20.

West Stokes at North Lenoir

Saturday, Oct. 17, 3 p.m. in La Grange. North Lenoir is No. 11 in the 4A East; West Stokes is No. 22.

North Lenoir enters at 16–5 after closing the regular season with a five-set victory at North Johnston. West Stokes is 3–14. The Hawks won six of their final eight matches, finished 9–3 in the Three Rivers Conference and went 9–2 at home.

Eleven of North Lenoir’s 16 wins were sweeps, and only one of its five losses came in straight sets. The Hawks also won both of their five-set matches, each against North Johnston.

The difference in records should be read alongside the schedules. In the NCHSAA’s final RPI report, North Lenoir’s opponents had a 43% winning percentage, compared with 59% for West Stokes. That does not erase the Hawks’ results, but it gives context to the visiting team’s lower seed.

Kennedi Starkie and Camryn Jenkins give North Lenoir proven production at the net. In the Oct. 8 win over West Craven, Starkie finished with 16 kills and six blocks, Jenkins added 10 kills and seven digs, and Maddie Howard had 30 assists. North Lenoir lost the opening set before winning the next three, including a 25–8 second set.

West Stokes senior Leah Grace Whitt is a central matchup concern. Its pre-Oct. 12 reported statistics credited her with 163 kills, 57 blocks and 39 aces, showing her involvement at the net and service line.

North Lenoir went 20–2 last season, beat First Flight in five sets in the second round and then lost another five-set match to Randleman. A victory Saturday would send the Hawks to No. 6 West Stanly on Oct. 20.

Heide Trask at Greene Central

Saturday, Oct. 17, 5 p.m. in Snow Hill. Greene Central is No. 15 in the 3A East; Trask is No. 18.

Greene Central enters at 12–11, while Trask is 6–16. The schedule comparison helps explain why the gap deserves a closer look: Trask’s opponents had a 60% winning percentage in the final RPI report, compared with 47% for Greene Central.

Trask lost its final five matches, but three of those losses went five sets. In its Oct. 13 finale against Pender, the Titans recovered from a 2–0 deficit before losing the deciding set 15–11. They have played eight five-set matches this season, winning three. Greene Central is 3–2 in five-set matches.

Junior Marli Jones gives the Rams a service weapon with 83 aces in their posted Oct. 9 statistics. Senior E’Mahni Williams had 55 reported blocks. In a four-set win over Beddingfield, Lilley Rogerson supplied 12 kills and Addison Rogerson added 13 assists and eight aces.

Trask has a productive junior core. Lacey Patterson’s latest posted numbers include 600 digs, while Harper Eastridge leads the reported attack at 2.1 kills per set. Patterson’s defense can extend rallies; Greene Central’s serving gives it a way to apply pressure before those rallies develop.

Recent postseason history favors Trask’s program. The Titans reached the third round last year after beating North Moore. Greene Central lost in the opening round to South Lenoir.

The winner travels to No. 2 Wake Preparatory Academy on Oct. 20.

Northwood at South Lenoir

Saturday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m. in Deep Run. South Lenoir is No. 9 in the 3A East; Northwood is No. 24.

South Lenoir brings a 10–10 record and three returning all-region selections into its home opener. Olivia Conner, Eliza Hawkins and Reese Cash were named to the NCVBCA’s 2025–26 Region 2 team. Conner and Hawkins are sophomores this fall; Cash is a senior.

The Blue Devils recovered from an 0–4 start to go 10–6 over the rest of their schedule. They have played eight five-set matches, splitting them 4–4, and finished 6–4 at home.

Northwood is 6–17, but both teams’ opponents had a 55% winning percentage in the final RPI report. Northwood also demonstrated last fall that a lower seed does not rule out an opening win, sweeping higher-seeded Martin County before losing to Farmville Central in the second round.

Northwood’s current roster lists only one senior. Junior Emory Fox had 136 kills in its pre-Oct. 12 reported statistics, sophomore libero Paola Ramirez had 322 digs and junior setter Stacy Ortiz had 176 assists.

South Lenoir’s recent sweep of Pender provides a concrete look at its versatility. Conner finished with 12 kills, 14 assists and nine digs; Hawkins added seven kills and seven digs. The Blue Devils also ended a rivalry losing streak against North Lenoir before falling to East Duplin in their regular-season finale.

The winner visits No. 8 Farmville Central on Oct. 20. South Lenoir split two five-set matches with the Jaguars in August, giving the Blue Devils a familiar opponent if they advance.

Oxford Prep at Jones Senior

Saturday, Oct. 17, 1 p.m. in Trenton. Jones Senior is No. 16 in the 1A East; Oxford Prep is No. 17.

Jones Senior enters at 9–12 against a 5–14 Oxford Prep team. Both have been decisive when they win: all nine Jones victories and all five Oxford victories were sweeps.

Sophomore Skylar Anderson and senior libero Harper Woolard give coach Jamie Webb’s Jones team a serving-and-defense foundation. Updated team statistics provided for this preview credit Anderson with 109 kills and 87 aces and Woolard with 419 digs, averaging 6.5 per set, plus 49 aces. Peyton Lucas has 267 digs and 48 aces, while Kynlee Whaley adds 219 digs, 46 kills and 41 aces. Alondra Hernandez Martinez has 47 kills and 43 aces, and Toriana King has nine blocks.

Oxford junior Kaylee Vaughn had 121 reported kills and produced 20 in a five-set loss to River Mill. Junior Camila Amaya-Villa had 37 aces. Jones’ ability to keep Vaughn from controlling stretches at the net will be an important part of the matchup.

Jones swept Arapahoe Charter on Oct. 12 before losing to Lejeune the following day. Oxford lost its final four reported matches. The Griffins reached the third round in 2025, including a second-round sweep of Weldon, before losing to East Columbus.

The winner faces No. 1 Woods Charter on the road Oct. 20.

Goldsboro awaits Martin County or James Kenan

No. 7 Goldsboro has a first-round bye in the 3A East and hosts the winner of No. 23 James Kenan at No. 10 Martin County on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

The Cougars’ 15–8 record represents a major step forward from a 6–15 season in 2025, when they lost in the first round at North Moore. Their current nine-player roster includes just two seniors, Taylor Howell and Addison West.

In reported statistics available before the Oct. 14 finale, junior Brylie Reaves had 208 kills, junior Sophia Hayes had 457 assists and 59 aces, Howell had 234 digs and sophomore Evelyn Watson had 37 blocks.

James Kenan would offer a familiar matchup. Goldsboro beat the Tigers 3–1 on Sept. 3 and 3–0 on Sept. 29. Against another shared opponent, Goldsboro split with Princeton while James Kenan lost both meetings in straight sets.

Martin County would present a different experience profile. The Gators are 11–8 and list six seniors on an 11-player roster. Senior middle Jahmya Council had 57 reported blocks, while senior outside hitter and setter Serenity Ellis had 49 aces in statistics available Oct. 14. Martin won its final two matches in straight sets.

James Kenan enters at 5–13, with senior Y’Anna Rivers leading its reported attack at 2.7 kills per set. Saturday’s opening match will determine which team travels to Goldsboro.

Aycock awaits Eastern Alamance or Webb

No. 7 C.B. Aycock has a first-round bye in the 5A East and hosts the winner of No. 23 J.F. Webb at No. 10 Eastern Alamance on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Aycock finished 15–8 and won seven of its final nine matches. Both losses in that span came in five sets at Fike, including the Oct. 13 finale.

Senior Camiya Frederick leads the Golden Falcons’ reported attack with 210 kills and 3.6 per set. Kaidynce Bailey had 50 aces and 21 blocks, Ayuli Stanton had 403 assists and Hannah Grady had 183 digs in the available statistical snapshot.

Eastern Alamance enters at 16–6 with seven seniors on its 12-player roster. It won four straight before taking a 2–0 lead against No. 4 Person and losing in five sets in its finale. Senior Bayleigh Burris leads the reported attack at 3.1 kills per set; Grace Perry had 460 assists in the pre-Oct. 12 snapshot.

That potential matchup would pair two teams whose final losses came in extended matches against higher seeds. Both Aycock and Eastern Alamance won an opening-round playoff match in 2025 before exiting in the second round.

J.F. Webb is 5–17. Rocky Mount provides a direct common-opponent comparison: Aycock swept the Gryphons twice, while Webb lost both meetings in five sets. The Warriors have six seniors on their 11-player roster, but they went 0–12 in conference play, losing each league match in straight sets.

Woodland Baptist Christian at Bethel Christian

Friday, Oct. 16, 5 p.m. in Kinston in the NCCSA playoffs.

Bethel Christian Academy enters at 13–3 after finishing district play 6–0. The Trojans host a 6–15 Woodland Baptist Christian team from Winston-Salem that is 2–10 on the road.

Bethel closed its regular season with consecutive sweeps of Living Water Christian, Washington Montessori and Fayetteville Street Christian. The Trojans have won 40 sets and lost 12, compared with Woodland’s 26–48 set record. Bethel is 5–2 at home.

The common-opponent comparison favors Bethel. The Trojans swept Fellowship Baptist Academy and Raleigh Christian Academy twice apiece, winning all 12 sets across those four matches. Woodland lost to Fellowship in four sets and Raleigh in three. The teams have no recorded meeting with each other this season.

Woodland’s last four recorded matches were sweeps against it: Oak Level Baptist, Calvary Christian, Union Grove Christian and Calvary again. Earlier five-set losses to Vandalia Christian and Shining Light Academy show the Eagles have also played competitive matches that went the distance.

Bethel’s recent production has come from several players. Against Fayetteville Street, junior Mikayla Cash had nine kills and nine aces, while sophomore setter Kensie Lee added 18 assists and six aces in a 25–6, 25–8, 25–16 victory. Senior Emma Ingram gives the Trojans another established attacking option.

Bethel has shown it can recover when a match does not start cleanly. On Sept. 3, the Trojans erased a two-set deficit against Jacksonville Christian, winning the final three sets 26–24, 25–10 and 15–8. Lee finished with 44 assists.

Friday’s home playoff precedes the NCCSA state tournament scheduled for Oct. 22–24. Bethel’s immediate task is to extend its three-match winning streak against Woodland.

Wayne Christian awaits NCISAA seeding

Wayne Christian finished its reported regular-season schedule at 10–10 after a five-set loss to John Paul II on Oct. 13, its fourth consecutive defeat.

The Eagles recovered from a 2–0 deficit, winning the third set 25–10 and the fourth 25–20, before losing the fifth 15–11. They had beaten John Paul II in four sets on Sept. 29, showing how closely matched those teams were down the stretch.

Seniors Izzie Corbett at outside hitter, Hannah Brock at setter and Sydney Vinson at libero anchor a roster that also includes four juniors and five sophomores.

Last season, Wayne Christian beat St. David’s in four sets in its first state-tournament match before losing in four to Cape Fear Academy. NCISAA seeding is scheduled for Oct. 17. The Eagles’ 2026 opponent and assignment remain pending.

Wayne Country Day has made a substantial turnaround

Wayne Country Day finished its reported regular-season schedule 11–13, well beyond its one victory in a 1–18 season in 2025.

The Chargers began this season 9–2 through Sept. 9. Their later wins came over Kerr-Vance and Living Water Christian. A five-set loss to Greenfield in the Oct. 15 finale extended their losing streak to six matches.

Rocky Mount Academy swept the Chargers on Oct. 13, but the first two sets were 25–23 and 25–22 before a 25–12 third set. Wayne Country Day’s immediate challenge is to turn those competitive stretches into complete matches while awaiting the Oct. 17 NCISAA 1A seeding process.

Wayne Prep and Ambleside remain on postseason watch

Wayne Prep’s updated schedule lists a 16–5 record and 10 consecutive recorded wins, including an Oct. 7 forfeit. Its latest reported played match was a five-set win over The Capitol Encore Academy on Oct. 8.

There are useful local comparisons in the Generals’ season: they split with Wayne Country Day, winning in five sets and losing in three, and lost both meetings with Wayne Christian in straight sets. A CAA4SC volleyball postseason assignment has not been verified.

Ambleside Prep’s updated posted results show a 3–10 record. After an 0–6 start, the Archers earned wins over Sallie B. Howard once and Pamlico Christian twice. Their MACAA volleyball postseason assignment has not been verified.

Other area teams and LCC

Kinston, Eastern Wayne, Southern Wayne and Spring Creek were not included in the final NCHSAA volleyball field. The association’s final records list Kinston at 3–13, Eastern Wayne at 2–14, Southern Wayne at 0–18 and Spring Creek at 4–18.

At the college level, Lenoir Community College still has regular-season matches ahead. Its official schedule lists home matches Oct. 17 against Mid-Atlantic Christian at 11 a.m. and USC Sumter at 3 p.m., followed by dates against Cape Fear, Virginia Peninsula and Louisburg. LCC’s postseason dates and opponent remain unconfirmed.

The NCHSAA second round is Oct. 20, followed by rounds Oct. 22 and 24, regional championships Oct. 27 and state championships Oct. 30–31. NCISAA and NCCSA teams follow their separate association schedules.

Full NCHSAA volleyball brackets: Click here.