By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Hardin Park’s middle school volleyball team made short work of Bethel, 2-0 (25-11, 25-10) on Sept. 25, then repeated their league leading performance against Valle Crucis, 2-0 925-7, 25-7).
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It might have been stormy outside of Lentz Eggers Gym on Sept. 25, but it was business as usual for the Watauga varsity volleyball team. The Pioneers had little trouble in sweeping visiting Freedom in a Northwestern Conference matchup, 3-0 (25-4, 25-12, 25-16).
Starting the second half of conference play, Watauga all but duplicated its dominating performance at Freedom’s home court on Sept. 9, when they defeated the Patriots 25-9, 25-10, 25-9.
The Watauga Pioneers recorded 19 service aces on Sept. 25 vs. Freedom, including four by junior outside hitter Ashlyn Smith. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
The Pioneers dominated in every phase, but nowhere was it more telling that this contest was a mismatch than in serving, in which Watauga, as a team, recorded an astonishing 19 service aces in the three sets, led by sophomore libero Caroline Childers (7 aces), senior outside hitter Emma Pastusic (6), and junior outside hitter Ashlyn Smith (4).
To their credit, the Patriots appeared to make some adjustments and got better against the Pioneers’ prolific offensive attack as the match wore on, but the visitors from Morganton were largely kept off balance by whichever combination of Watauga players was on the floor.
Now 16-1 overall, 6-0 in Northwestern Conference play, the Pioneers will look to maintain momentum as the season winds down toward the state playoffs, for which Watauga is almost certain to secure a high seed. Next games include a final non-conference tilt on Monday, Sept. 29 vs. High Country rival Ashe County, followed by a road trip to South Caldwell (Sept 30), a home match vs. arguably the toughest conference opponent, Alexander Central (Oct. 2). The Pioneers close out the regular season with a trip to Marion to face McDowell (Oct. 7) before returning home to host St. Stephens (Oct. 9).
We look for the state playoffs’ brackets to be announced Oct. 11.
WATAUGA’S INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS vs. FREEDOM
Kills: Emma Pastusic (18), Kora Knight (8), Gracyn Phelps (3), Addie Stough (3), Rae Coffey (3), Ashlyn Smith (2), Hannah Adams (1), Julia Rowan (1)
Service Aces: Caroline Childers (7), Emma Pastusic (6), Ashlyn Smith (4), Lainey Gragg (1), Lilli Combs (1)
Blocks: Lainey Gragg (4), Kora Knight (2), Athena Elliott (2), Rae Coffey (2), Addie Stough (1), Hannah Adams (1)
Digs: Caroline Childers (15), Lilli Combs (8), Lainey Gragg (7), Emma Pastusic (4), Ava Zaragoza (3), Ashlyn Smith (3), Athena Elliott (1), Gracyn Phelps (1), Kora Knight (1)
Assists: Lainey Gragg (27), Caroline Childers (5), Ava Zaragoza (2), Ashlyn Smith (1), Lilli Combs (1)
Serve Receive: Caroline Childers (10), Ashlyn Smith (8), Emma Pastusic (8), Graycie Collins (1), Lilli Combs (1)
BONUS PHOTOS (Click on any image for larger version and Slide Show mode)
By David Rogers. HICKORY, N.C. — Balanced offensive and defensive performances by the Watauga High School varsity volleyball team proved too much for host St. Stephens on Sept, 23. The Pioneers recorded their twelfth sweep of the still young 2025 season, expanding their overall record to 15-1, 5-0 in Northwestern Conference.
Watauga corralled the Indians, 3-0 (25-14, 25-10, 25-19).
Watauga’s Gracyn Collins serves at St. Stephens on Sept. 23, 2025. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Testament to Watauga’s roster strength was clearly evident. A total of nine different Pioneers recorded kills in attacking the Indians’ side of the net. Defensively, there was a similar statistical result: nine different Watauga players tallied digs on the night.
“We came into the game knowing that St. Stephens is a little bit unpredictable after watching some film on them for a couple of recent games,” said junior outside hitter Ashlyn Smith. “So we expected their very best. We came out tonight playing our very best. That showed in our consistency, our communication and our execution. We were just having fun out there today. You can really see that when we play together, we win.”
Watauga head coach Kim Pryor described a similar scouting report on St. Stephens as they previously saw in McDowell.
“They have a very athletic middle and libero. Their defense is scrappy. So we knew we had to be on top of our game. We played well and we had fun. That’s one of the common characteristics of this team, having fun. Across the board, up and down the roster, there is unity. They love each other,” said Pryor.
One of the interesting observations on this night was the elevated, more visible (and audible) leadership of Smith, barking out pre-serve observations about the adversary’s front row as well as back row alignments. Asked about her communications after the match, Smith acknowledged her role and purpose.
Watauga outside hitter Ashlyn Smith barks out alignment observations at St. Stephens, Sept. 23, 2025. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
“I am a really big believer in (creating) high energy in a team. That can’t happen without communication, including what you see on the other side of the net as well as on our side of the net. Our communication during a match can be intimidating for the other team. When I am calling out the numbers of players on the other side of the net, they are looking at me. I am calling out where the setter is on the other side, back row or front row and I am calling out the hitters, so we know who is on the front row,” said Smith.
Smith admitted that she was not instructed to be so vocal.
“This is an element that I am bringing to the team, I think. This level of communication has two purposes, intimidating the other team as well as getting our team in a groove,” Smith added.
Pryor confirmed Smith’s growing role.
“That level of communication is important,” said Pryor. “It is a role that Ashlyn has taken on herself. As a leader, that isn’t (surprising).”
Emma Pastusic (18) powers a kill shot past a would-be blocker on Sept. 23, 2025, at St. Stephens in Northwestern Conference play. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Watauga is now ranked No. 2 in MaxPreps’ North Carolina 6A classification rankings, behind Greenville, N.C.’s J.H. Rose High School. The Pioneers are ranked No. 12 in the state across all classifications. The higher rankings bring prestige, of course, but also puts a target on their proverbial backs as they approach the second half of the conference season, heading into the state playoffs.
Up next, the Pioneers host another league contender in Freedom (Morganton) on Thursday, Sept. 25, then High Country rival Ashe County on Sept. 29 in a non-conference tilt. Both matches are slated for around 6 p.m., after junior varsity curtain raisers.
SELECTED INDIVIDUAL STATS
Kills: Emma Pastusic (15), Ashlyn Smith (8), Kora Knight (5), Addie Stough (3), Rae Coffey (2), Julia Rowan (2), Gracyn Phelps (1), Hannah Adams (1), Lainey Gragg (1)
Service Aces: Caroline Childers (3), Ashlyn Smith (3), Emma Pastusic (2), Lainey Gragg (2), Ava Zaragoza (1), Jillian Martin (1)
Assists: Lainey Gragg (29), Ava Zaragoza (2), Ashlyn Smith (1), Emma Pastusic (1), Caroline Childers (1), Jillian Martin (1), Lilli Combs (1)
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — In a match that was tied 31 times with 17 actual lead changes across four sets, App State emerged the victor against in-state, non-conference rival Davidson on Sept. 21, 3-1 (23-25, 25-21. 25-20, 25-18).
Th Mountaineers had to overcome a ferocious offensive attack by the Wildcats, led by 6-0 junior outside hitter Elena Garcia-Guerrios and 6-1 junior middle blocker Mia Compas. A native of Manati, Puerto Rico, Garcia-Guerrios recorded 26 kills on the afternoon, on a staggering 63 attacks. Compas, a native of Carlsbad, Calif., added 11 kills on 26 attacks.
With Addison Heidemann setting, Maya Winterhoff is prepared to go up for the kill. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
App State countered with sophomore libero MeMe Davis’ and senior outside hitter Ali Morris’ 24 and 12 digs, respectively, to keep the ball in play. While the Wildcats’ offensive prowess seemed to be centered on Garcia-Guerrios and Compas, the overall defensive skills of the Mountaineers set up a multi-faceted attack spread across five key players, including Morris (12 kills), senior middle blocker Maya Winterhoff (10 kills), sophomore outside hitter Bella Hutchens (10 kills), senior outside hitter Keionna Mackey (9 kills), and sophomore middle blocker Lou Johnson (6 kills).
If, as the old saying goes, “Variety is the spice of life,” then an offensive volleyball attack that could come from any direction at any time is a winning strategy. The focal point of App State’s spreading the ball around comes down to the setting abilities of redshirt senior setter, Addison Heidemann, who recorded 38 assists spread across the four sets.
App State defensive specialist Caroline Farthing (5), a Watauga High School alum, keeps the ball in play vs. Davidson on Sept. 21. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Sunday’s encounter with Davidson concludes the non-conference schedule for the Mountaineers’ 2025 campaign. The finish with a commendable 9-2 record, which included Power Four wins over Duke (3-1) and Virginia (3-2), as well as tight losses to Michigan State (2-3) and North Carolina (1-3).
“Our non-conference schedule was tough and Davidson was a part of that equation. They are a great program,” said App State head coach Chad Sutton afterwards. “We knew it was going to be a battle. The pass well. They serve well. The defend well. They are a physical team with low errors. They have a couple of players over there who are studs. We knew it was going to be a battle and that was what you saw on the court.”
For Sutton and his Mountaineers, they now face a new season.
“The non-conference season doesn’t matter. We have a new season and we want to win every season. The non-conference season for us is about learning ourselves, learning our team, especially with a new (coaching) staff. We had to do a lot of learning during non-conference. Now we have a pretty good idea of everything and we need to refine and fine tune, make a couple of tweaks, hone in and get a little bit better on a couple of our skills,” said Sutton.
Davidson’s Eleana Garcia-Guerrios (19) attacks against block attempts by Maya Winterhoff (2) and Addison Heidemann (4). Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Morris, who had a double-double on the day with a dozen kills to go with 12 digs, also talked about the “new season” in speaking with High Country Sports after the match.
“It has been a challenging non-conference schedule and the only two losses being against Power Four schools, Michigan State and North Carolina, that’s incredible,” said Morris. “All of those early games prepared us so well for conference play. Davidson had really good ball control and they were super scrappy. You hit somewhere and they are most likely going to show up there. We love close games and nailbiters to five sets around here, but it was good to get this one in four.”
In his first year leading the Mountaineer volleyball program, Sutton didn’t hesitate in answering a question about his thoughts in taking the App State job.
“Being 9-2 helps!” he said with a broad smile and chuckles from those around him. “Seriously, though, the only challenge in making this decision was our having a baby as I was getting hired in April, so now just five months old. I’m a Florida guy, so I know that snow might be tough, but that was not a factor (in the decision). This team, though, the girls are flying around, making it a lot easier on us as a staff in our transition here. Everybody wants to win.
“The biggest challenge,” he added, “… anytime you take a new job there is an onboarding process. You are new to the area. Outside of the job you have to learn how to function in the community, what your routines are going to be. Add in what your routines are going to be in the job, as well… it is a lot all at once, especially with a new baby. So our challenge has been to get organized quickly on a crammed timeline. Being an April hire, everything is condensed. You have to get organized quick while raising a child for the first time in your life. But this team and this community has been great, making it all easier.”
Sutton and staff will take the Mountaineers into the new, Sun Belt Conference season against James Madison on Friday, Sept. 26, with first serve scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Holmes Convocation Center. They will play the Dukes again on Sept. 27, in a 2 p.m. affair before traveling the following weekend to face Louisiana on Oct. 3 (7 p.m, Eastern time) and Sept. 4 (2 p.m. ET).
BOX SCORE
BONUS PHOTOS (Click on any image for larger size and Slide Show mode)
All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports
By Matt Present. BOONE, N.C. — App State generated 13 shots and controlled possession for much of the match, but a first-half goal proved decisive in a 1-0 setback to Louisiana on Sunday at The Valley.
The Mountaineers (4-5-1, 0-2-1 Sun Belt) had several quality opportunities, placing six shots on target – while another attempt from Izzi Wood went ringing off the goal frame – but none found the back of the net.
Louisiana (4-4-2, 1-1-1) broke through in the 31st minute when Carson Glenn finished off a feed from Addison Soehn for the game’s only goal.
App State pressed hard for an equalizer in the second half. Olivia Simon led the attack with three shots, including two on goal, while Ellie Garrison and Wood also forced saves from Louisiana goalkeeper Natalie Mayes.
Mountaineers’ goalkeeper Anna Claire Jacobi kept the Mountaineers within striking distance, making seven saves in the contest, matching her career high.
The Mountaineers will look to bounce back when they continue Sun Belt play next week against an unbeaten South Alabama team. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
By Layne McNary. BOONE, N.C. — The App State Field Hockey team closed out an undefeated weekend by defeating the Vermont Catamounts 7-1.
The Mountaineers (6-1, 1-0 MAC) never trailed in the contest, scoring within the first two minutes of the opening period.
Sophia Baxter, Lise Boekaar, Frederique Grimbergen, Hadley Kuzmicky and Kate Richardson all scored against the Catamounts (5-3), with Grimbergen netting a hat trick.
How It Happened
1st Quarter: Both teams scored in the opening period, with Grimbergen putting the Mountaineers on the board with 13:31 remaining. Vermont answered with its only goal of the game late in the period, tying it 1-1.
2nd Quarter: The Mountaineers’ offense exploded, scoring three times. Baxter put App State back in the lead after a penalty stroke, followed by goals from Grimbergen and Boekaar to give the Mountaineers a 4-1 lead at the break.
3rd Quarter: It was more of the same, with Grimbergen scoring her third goal of the game from a Bridget Donovan assist. Richardson later followed, scoring her third goal of the season, giving the Mountaineers a 6-1 lead heading into the final period.
4th Quarter: The Mountaineers added one more goal, with Kuzmicky getting her fifth goal of the season from a Richardson pass. Claire Grenis made three saves in the period, bringing her total to five in the 7-1 win.
By David Rogers. ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Even though Watauga High School’s varsity football game at Erwin High School was delayed by lightning for 24 hours — and the Pioneers had to endure a two and a half hour bus ride back to Boone late Friday night, then another two and half hours on a repeat trip to West Asheville Saturday afternoon — the Boone boys were nonetheless supercharged against the Warriors, winning 49-14.
The Pioneers again scored using many different playmakers, spearheaded by the quarterback play of senior Cade Keller, who completed seven of 11 passes for 140 yards and two TDs, one each to seniors Nyle Peays and Evan Burroughs. Keller also rushed for 95 carries on five carries, including two more TDs on the ground.
Watauga’s aerial attack was highlighted by big gainers, including a 37-yarder to senior wide receiver Kyle Williams, a 40-yarder to Peays for the TD, and a 28-yard catch-and-run endeavor by senior Burroughs.
As exciting as the Pioneer passing attack was, though, much more game on punishing runs by Keller (5 carries, 95 yards, 2 TDs), senior running back Everett Gryder (7 carries, 68 yards, two TDs, including a 38 yard scamper to paydirt around the right side in the second quarter), and senior Matthew Leon (5 carries, 83 yards), who produced a highlight reel worthy, 69-yard, tackle-busting sprint down the left sideline in Q1.
Seven touchdowns usually lead to seven extra point attempts and junior placekicker Miller Hankins was perfect on the night, successful on all seven attempts.
Watauga (4-0) makes a return trip to Asheville on Friday, Sept. 26, to face a highly regarded Asheville High School team to close out the non-conference slate for 2025.
Watauga is now ranked No. 20 in the state and No. 2 in North Carolina’s 6A classification, according to MaxPreps, only behind No. 1 Charlotte Catholic.
At 2-2, with wins over East Rutherford and independent Asheville School, Asheville HS is ranked No. 19 in the North Carolina 6A classification. Their losses were to perennial 5A powerhouse Crest (Shelby, NC) and Kingsport, Tenn.-based Dobyns-Bennett.
BONUS PHOTOS (Click on any image for larger version and Slide Show mode)
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — If Watauga High School women’s volleyball team had any reservations about going up against a larger, in-conference school on Sept. 18, it didn’t show. The Pioneers all but routed the visiting McDowell Titans in Lentz Eggers Gym, 3-0 (25-5, 25-7, 25-17).
Now 14-1 overall, 4-0 in 6A/7A Northwestern Conference play, the host Pioneers rattled off 13 straight points to open the first set and never looked back. After back to back sets in which Watauga limited the Titans to single digits in scoring, head coach Kim Pryor was able to go deep into her bench, sprinkling in a number of younger reserves and give them valuable court time.
Caroline Childers receives a McDowell serve on Sept. 18, passing the ball up to setter Lainey Gragg. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
It hardly mattered what combination of Pioneers were on the floor. The execution was fluid. The results were a powerful statement of the team’s overall preparation and togetherness.
Afterwards, Pryor acknowledged the reality of playing against a larger school with more student-athletes to draw from and credited McDowell for having some really good athletes, several of whom she sees on the basketball court after the volleyball season. But Pryor quickly focused her thoughts on the Pioneers, whose members play together outside of high school competition in various combinations for travel teams and local volleyball clubs. Such year ’round work in volleyball has helped make Watauga a North Carolina 6A West power.
Although typically not one of the Pioneer starters, sophomore outside hitter Gracyn Phelps got plenty of court time in the third and final set, contributing four decisive kill shots hit hard enough to scrape some varnish off the hardwood flooring on the McDowell side of the net.
Afterward, Phelps smiled broadly in telling reporters she loved her teammates and loved the opportunities when they came to fearlessly “swing away” in attack. She credited senior outside hitter Emma Pastusic with helping refine her hitting capabilities.
Although Pastusic was rested most of the third set, she still led the team’s offensive power with 17 kills. In the somewhat abbreviated match, overall, setter Lainey Gragg adroitly recorded 28 assists.
One of the more remarkable team stats: 13 service aces, seven off the arm of outside hitter Ashlyn Smith and four from the versatile Gragg.
SELECTED INDIVIDUAL STATS
Kills: Emma Pastusic (17), Kora Knight (6), Gracyn Phelps (4), Rae Coffey (3), Ashlyn Smith (2), Caroline Childers (1), Julia Rowan (1)
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — A harbinger, perhaps, of things to come for the Watauga varsity later on, the Pioneers’ junior varsity swept McDowell, 2-0 (25-17, 25-20), on Sept. 18 in Lentz Eggers Gym.
While the encounter was well-contested by the visiting Titans, with early lead exchanges in the second set, Watauga eventually pulled away.
Now 13-0, the junior Pioneers are slated to play at St. Stephens (Hickory) on Sept. 23.
SELECTED INDIVIDUAL STATS
Kills: Adeline Tate (8), Kira Beasley (5), Addin Hodges (4), Haileigh Peele (3), Anna Casey (3)
Assists: Mia Mitchell (20), Ember Honeycutt (2), Molly Nolte (1)
Digs: Ember Honeycutt (11), Kira Beasley (7), Mia Mitchell (4), Madison Plemons (4)
Service Aces: Ember Honeycutt (2), Madison Plemons (2), Mia Mitchell (1)
Blocks: Addin Hodges (1)
BONUS PHOTOS (Click on any image for larger size and slide show mode)
All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Off a centering pass from the left side by Gavin Lapinski, Watauga striker Evan Mawhinney foot-flicked a shot into the right corner of the Ardrey Kell-defended net in the 11th minute of play on Sept. 17, giving the Pioneers an early lead. To the delight of a raucous, early autumn crowd at Jack Groce Stadium, Mawhinney added a second goal in the second half — and Watauga played stellar defense to secure a 2-1 win over the Charlotte-based Knights.
Ardrey Kell evened things up with barely 10 seconds remaining in the first half on a long pass from midfield to the center, followed and punched in by striker Matthew Kulyak, just under the outstretched arms of a diving Soloman Triplett, the Pioneer goalkeeper.
Mawhinney punched in his second goal in the 13th minute of the second half, taking advantage of a header assist from Asher Hampton to recapture the lead for the host Pioneers. Hampton capitalized on a long, downfield pass, advancing the ball by heading it backwards to a well-positioned Mawhinney.
The two non-conference adversaries battled mostly in the middle third of the field for the rest of the second half. Ardrey Kell threatened briefly with a long free kick from 37 yards out to in front of the goal, but Triplett was able to smother any semblance of attack on the loose ball.
Watauga had a good look at goal in the 24th minute of the second half when Lipinski slipped a pass to the left side to an on-rushing Hampton, but the side judge determined that he was offsides.
Find the ball in mid-air just to right of the New River Building Supply sign, a centering pass from Gavin Lipinski. Moments later, it was foot-flicked by Evan Mawhinney into the right side of the net for Watauga’s first goal vs. Ardrey Kell on Sept. 17, in Jack Groce Stadium. The Pioneers won, 2-1. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Watauga’s corner kick in the 29th minute was all but wasted, landing far out from the posts and secured by the Knights’ defense.
A nifty defensive play by Pioneer backline stalwart Noah Van Werkhoven turned away a Knights threat in the attacking right corner with just over eight minutes remaining.
The Pioneers rebuffed an Ardrey Kell threat a few minutes later, turning the Knights’ attack in the right corner into a Pioneer counterattack. Minutes later, a long shot off the foot of Quincy Honeycutt was slapped over the crossbar by the Ardrey Kell goalkeeper for a dramatic save, but it also left him writhing in pain. He remained on the ground in front of his net for several minutes until eventually getting to his feet to help defend what turned out to be two consecutive corner kicks by the Pioneers, both turned away by the Knights.
Mawhinney came close to having a “hat trick,” his third scoring opportunity coming with a break down the left side but it was ultimately squashed by the Ardrey Kell defense.
If this match had any real drama, it seemed to come in the final two minutes.
The Knights were awarded a penalty kick with 1:36 to go when a yellow card was flashed by the referee for alleged dangerous play inside the penalty box by Watauga’s Van Werkhoven. After conferring with his side judge, the referee jogged to the Watauga sideline to offer an explanation to head coach Josh Honeycutt, but apparently that didn’t go too well when the official turned back not once, but twice to flash yellow cards at the coach.
After the lengthy delay, Watauga’s goalkeeper, Triplett, turned away the penalty shot to preserve the Pioneer lead.
Watauga’s David Ganley (6) moves the ball ahead against Ardrey Kell on Sept 17. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
The drama wasn’t quite over, however, when Ardrey Kell was awarded a free kick from 23 yards out on the right side, roughly 15 yards from the sideline. With Watauga showing a 2-man wall, the Ardrey Kell kicker curled the ball to the left side, where it was eventually cleared by the Pioneers and the well-contested match appeared to tick to an end.
Inexplicably, the official put two seconds back on the clock and awarded a free kick to Ardrey Kell from near midfield, quite some distance from where the action was occurring in the apparent final seconds, in the attacking left corner. When the free kick was smothered by Watauga, he had another two seconds put back on the clock for yet another free kick attempt, which also failed.
Mercifully, for the Pioneer faithful, that was the end of the unusual finish to an otherwise well-contested match between longtime non-conference, friendly archrivals.
Next up for Watauga (5-3-3) is a final non-conference matchup on Sept. 22 against 8A power, Mallard Creek, in Jack Groce Stadium. Two days later, Sept. 24, the Pioneers open Northwestern Conference play at Freedom, in Morganton.
