By David Rogers. HICKORY, N.C. — South Caldwell senior Bryce Corpening crushed the men’s field on Sept. 9 at Southside Park, for the St. Stephens-hosted cross country meet, but Watauga easily ran away with the team title based on high performance roster depth.

Corpening crossed the 5k finish line (3.11 miles) in 15:43.3, a full minute and seven seconds ahead of No. 2 Dawson Spath of McDowell (16:50.7). The Titans of McDowell also had the No. 3 finisher in the Men’s Division, senior Saul Carson (18:34.8).

But where the Spartans and Titans had the top runners on this day, Watauga’s top five contributing to the team scores were all in the top 15 places, including Brian Newmark at No. 4 (18:42.0), A J McAulay at No. 5 (18:50.5), Holden Womack at No. 11 (19:37.7), Cormac Walker at No. 14 (19:46.4), and Doyle Casey at No. 15 (19:51.8), for a team total of 49 (In cross country, the team scores are calculated by adding the individual placings of a school’s top 5 runners, so a lower total is better than a higher total).

TEAM SCORES:

1. Watauga 49
2. St. Stephens 82
3. Alexander Central 89
4. McDowell 94
5. West Lincoln 103
6. Freedom 154
7. University Christian
8. South Caldwell 179

In the Men’s field of 87 harriers, Watauga also had two other, non-scoring athletes in the quarter of the event: Sawyer Blackburn (No. 17, 20:02.8) and freshman Caleb Duval (No. 22, 20:15.9).

Other Pioneers competing on this day include Tallon Abrams, Cole Gray, Ike Mance, Andrew Walkert, David Ballenger-Peters, Reed Springer, Alaska Whitehead, Miller Hining, Remy Steinheber, Malcolm Woolard, Jaxson Marsh, Luke Salee, Charlie Huggins, and Collin Troisi.

WOMEN’S DIVISION: Watauga makes it a team sweep

The Women’s Division at the Southside Park event was a little more competitive, teamwise, but depth of roster again was a difference maker for the Pioneers.

Madison Sledge of University Christian led the way, capturing the No. 1 title more than 41 seconds ahead of St. Stephens’ Jade Gonzales-Carden (No. 2). West Lincoln’s Jaylise Campbell crossed the line in the No. 3 position and Callie Beard of St. Stephens was at No. 4.

Watauga picked up five of the next six spots, finishing with all five of the scorers among the top 10 out of 97 runners competing. Pioneer junior Josephine Walker was No. 5, 1:28.4 behind the first place athlete, while freshman Vivian Hans crossed the line in the No. 6 position. Other scoring Pioneers included Maggie Visser (No. 8), Bailey Collins (No. 9), and Zoe Stille (No. 10)

WOMEN’S DIVISION TEAM SCORES

1. Watauga 36
2. St. Stephens 42
3. West Lincoln 85
4. Alexander Central 135
5. Freedom 146
6. McDowell 151
7. University Christian 153
8. South Caldwell 244

Other Pioneer harriers competing in the Women’s Division and finishing in the top 36 of the field included Carrie Bradbury, Anna Norris, Noelle Bollman, Sylvia Taft, Ava Langley, Ayla Crawley, Grace Scantlin, Julia Benson, Iyla Freed, Elizabeth Anderson, Leila McTier, Rees Loggains, Merritt Powell, Rosemary Walker.

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — One press box pundit aptly described the Sept. 5 high school football game in saying, “Watauga is playing chess, but Mount Airy came to play checkers.”

Well, the game was “chess,” so the visiting Granite Bears came up well short in the Pioneers’ 61-7 win.

It was the third game in a row Watauga’s “complementary football” performance triggered a “mercy rule” running clock in the second half, after lopsided wins over Ashe County (56-7) and TC Roberson (42-0).

Mount Airy arrived at Jack Groce Stadium undefeated at 2-0 (wins over Starmount, 21-6, and East Wilkes, 23-16) but was mismatched vs. Watauga. Committing eight turnovers that included four fumbles, two interceptions and two turnovers on downs, it could be argued the Granite Bears self-destructed.

That, of course, would detract from a stellar effort by the Pioneers’ defense, led by defensive line menace Brady Lindenmuth and his linebacker sidekicks, Thomas Deiters, Cooper Greene and John Wilson Mills, among others.

On offense, senior quarterback Cade Keller was again in step with his playmakers, completing 9-of-17 passes for 157 yards and 3 TDs, while tucking and running for 51 yards on 7 carries and 2 TDs. He spread the ball around to four different receivers. Meanwhile, seven different Pioneers carried the ball for 231 yards and a combined 6 rushing TDs.

Watauga enjoys a bye week next, then goes on the road for three consecutive games beginning with at Erwin (Asheville) on Sept. 19 (7 p.m.), at Asheville on Sept. 26 (7:30 p.m.), and opening Northwestern Conference play at Freedom (Morganton), on Oct. 3 (7:30 p.m.).

SCORING SUMMARY

1st Quarter

• • WAT: TD Pass, Cade Keller to Nyle Peays, 29 yards, PAT by Miller Hankins is good (7-0)
  • WAT: TD Pass, Cade Keller to Evan Burroughs, 29 yards, PAT by Miller Hankins is good (14-0)
  • MA: TD Pass, Ahmad Francis to Zach Goins, 41 yards, PAT by No. 88 is good (14-7)

2nd Quarter

• • WAT: TD Run, Everett Gryder, 6 yards, PAT by Miller Hankins is good (21-7)
  • WAT: TD Run, Cade Keller, 7 yards, PAT by Miller Hankins is good (28-7)
  • WAT: TD Run, Cade Keller, 5 yards, PAT by Miller Hankins is good (35-7)
  • WAT: TD Run, Evan Burroughs, 3 yards, PAT by Miller Hankins is good (42-7)

3rd Quarter

• • WAT: TD Pass, Cade Keller to Kyle Williams, 19 yards, PAT kick by Cameron Nance, FAILED, 48-7)

4th Quarter

• • WAT: TD Run, Merrix Oakes, 11 yards, PAT by Cameron Nance is good (55-7)
  • WAT: TD Run, Easton Burns, 4 yards, PAT by Cameron Nance is BLOCKED (61-7)

INDIVIDUAL WATAUGA GAME STATS (unofficial)

Passing

• • Cade Keller: 9-of-17, 157 yards, 3 TDS, no INTs

Receiving

• • Evan Burroughs, 3 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD
  • Nyle Peays, 3 catches, 57 yards, 1 TD
  • Kyle Williams, 1 catch, 19 yards, 1 TD
  • Tyler Leyshon, 1 catch, 10 yards

Rushing

• • Matthew Leon, 9 carries, 74 yards
  • Everett Gryder, 11 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD
  • Cade Keller: 7 carries, 51 yards, 2 TDs
  • Brayson Gough, 3 carries, 20 yards
  • Merrix Oakes, 1 carry, 11 yards, 1 TD
  • Evan Burroughs, 2 carries, 10 yards, 1 TD
  • Easton Burns, 1 carry, 4 yards, 1 TD

BONUS PHOTOS (all photos by Jared Everett for High Country Sports. Click on any image for larger size and SLIDE SHOW mode)

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Overcoming a challenge in non-conference play is nothing new for the Watauga High School volleyball team — and the Pioneers proved again up to the task on Sept. 4 vs. Hickory Christian in Lentz Eggers Gym.

The Knights and Pioneers engaged in a see-saw battle for most of the three sets before Watauga took command, eventually emerging the victor, 3-1 (25-22, 27-25, 25-20, 25-10).

Next up for the Pioneers is the start of Northwestern Conference play, at Freedom on Sept. 9 (JV @ 4:30 p.m., Varsity at 6:00 p.m.).

STAT LEADERS vs. HICKORY CHRISTIAN

• Kills: Emma Pastusic (34), Ashlyn Smith (13), Kora Knight (11)
• Service Aces: Ashlyn Smith (3)
• Blocks: Kora Knight (7)
• Digs: Ashlyn Smith (23), Emma Pastusic (19), Caroline Childers (18), Lilli Combs (16), Lainey Gragg (11)
• Assists: Lainey Gragg (57), Caroline Childers (5), Lilli Combs (3)
• Serve Receive: Caroline Chiders (32), Ashlyn Smith (21), Emma Pastusic (19)

BONUS PHOTOS (click any image for larger size in SLIDE SHOW mode)

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Visiting West Forsyth men’s soccer lived up to its billing as one of the top 2025 programs in North Carolina on Sept. 1, before falling, 1-0, to host Watauga.

The Pioneers’ senior striker, Asher Hampton, took advantage of a “ruckus” in front of the Titans’ defended net in the last minute of the first half, punching a ball through the melee along the ground, past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Watauga’s defense made the one-goal advantage stand up the rest of the way.

Hampton described West Forsyth to reporters after the match as the best team he has played against.

One of those key defending backline players for the Pioneers, junior Miller Hankins was complimentary of his teammates, saying they communicated extremely well and covered for each other effectively.

Now 3-1-1 on the young season after playing four matches in five days — beating top programs in Cuthbertson, Reagan and West Forsyth while losing only to Charlotte Catholic over that span — Watauga goes on the road to tackle Patton (Morganton) on Sept. 3.

Coming into the Sept. 1 contest, West Forsyth, an 8A (large) school under the new NCHSAA classifications, is ranked No. 85 nationally by MaxPreps and No. 4 in North Carolina.

Watauga, with a 6A classification, was ranked No. 455 nationally, No. 48 in North Carolina and No. 14 in the Charlotte area by MaxPreps.

BONUS PHOTOS (click any image for SLIDE SHOW MODE)

All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports

By David Rogers. WEST JEFFERSON, N.C. — For the second time this week, the Watauga High School volleyball team fell behind to a non-conference opponent on the road, then rallied to capture a nailbiter of a win. The August 27 victim: longtime High Country rival, Ashe County, 3-1 (22-25, 25-14, 25-11, 27-25).

After falling to the Huskies in the first set, 22-25, the Pioneers gained their footing and breezed through the second and third sets rather handily, winning 25-14 and 25-11, respectively.

And that is when the real drama began. Ashe County seemed determined to defend their home court and jumped out to a seemingly insurmountable advantage. Leading 19-10 in the fourth set, the Huskies looked like they would tie the match at two sets apiece.

“If there is a word that best describes this 2025 Watauga team, it is ‘resilient,’” said a smiling Pioneer head coach, Kim Pryor, after her charges rallied from the edge of fourth set oblivion to secure the win, in overtime, no less. “We are steady. We don’t get rattled when things turn against us. We know we can come back from anything. We are banking these games and building something big, I hope.

“We schedule non-conference opponents like this because it prepares us for the tests we will face in Northwestern Conference play and beyond the regular season, in the playoffs,” added Pryor. “Ashe County is a well-coached, quality team with some terrific players, every year. They really work in the off-season. They are a great team with a lot of talent. That is why we are playing them twice in non-conference play. We both know we need these kinds of challenges.”

It is hard to pinpoint any individual behind the Pioneers’ dramatic rally from being down 19-10 in the decisive fourth set. An obvious choice for many would be the powerful serves and kill shots of senior outside hitter, Emma Pastusic — and few would argue that viewpoint. But others will point to the service runs by junior outside hitter Ashlyn Smith, junior defensive specialist Graycie Collins and senior defensive specialist Lilli Combs, as well as sophomore libero Caroline Childers. Still more will describe the scrambling sets fashioned by junior setter Lainey Gragg or opportunistic dinks, as well as slams by front row role players Kora Knight, Julia Rowan and Addie Stough.

All would be right, of course, because volleyball is a team game won or lost by the individual contributions of players who effectively “connect” with each other.

“We’ve been working on our setter-hitter connections,” said Pastusic after the game. “Making the ball faster and getting to it faster, placing the ball better and better arm swings, so the ball goes down.”

Critical to the success of those setters and hitters are the back row skills to dig out often powerful kill shots by an opponent and keep the ball in play.

“As a defensive specialist,” said Combs, “my role is to keep the ball in play, but at the same time to pass the ball to the primary setter in a way that makes it easier for her to deliver the perfect set for our hitters. It’s a challenge sometimes, but a lot of fun.”

The now 6-1 Pioneers have little time to celebrate their Aug. 27 win. They are on the road again Aug. 28, facing Forbush (East Bend, N.C., in northeastern Yadkin County), 4-3, with tight matches of its own against quality opponents Mount Tabor and East Forsyth.

WATAUGA STAT LEADERS VS. ASHE COUNTY

• Kills: Emma Pastusic (25), Julia Rowan (6), Kora Knight (4)
• Assists: Lainey Gragg (38)
• Stuff Blocks: Kora Knight (3), Addie Stough (2), Julia Rowan (1), Emma Pastusic (1)
• Digs: Caroline Childers (24), Lilli Combs (21), Lainey Gragg (14), Emma Pastusic (10), Ashlyn Smith (9)
• Service Aces: Caroline Childers (4), Emma Pastusic (4), Graycie Collins (1)

JV

Watauga’s junior varsity Pioneers breezed through their curtain-raiser match with a two-set sweep, 25-11, 25-13. Stat leaders included:

• Mia Mitchell: 11 assists, 3 service aces, 1 stuff block, 3 digs
• Kira Beasley: 3 kills, 1 assist, 6 service aces, 4 digs
• Haileigh Peele: 4 kills
• Adeline Tate: 4 kills
• Ember Honeycutt: 2 assists, 2 service aces, 3 digs
• Kelbey Windish: 4 digs
• Madison Plemons: 3 service aces, 2 digs

By David Rogers. HICKORY, N.C. — Another Watauga volleyball match against regional rival Hickory, another stiff test. This time, the Pioneers turned the tables on the Red Tornadoes, taking a 3-1 win (26-24, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21) in David Craft Gymnasium.

BONUS PHOTOS at bottom of article. Click any image for Slide Show mode and larger images.

Now 5-1 on the young season, the Pioneers’ only loss was to the Red Tornadoes in the season opener, 3-1, on Aug. 11, in Lentz Eggers Gym. So there was a “revenge” element to the Aug. 25 rematch.

Watauga started slow, finding it difficult to cover open areas behind their outside hitters and middle blockers. Hickory exploited those to jump out to an early, 6-3 lead, but the resilient Pioneers eventually figured things out and the opening set at 9-9. from there, it was a see-saw battle to the very end. Watauga squandered a 23-20 lead and allowed Hickory to push the game into overtime before the visitors from Boone could close it out, 26-24.

Although Hickory demonstrated their own resilience in taking the second set, Watauga’s offensive attack was relentless, especially behind the deft setting of Lainey Gragg (45 assists) and subsequent kill opportunities for outside hitters Emma Pastusic (24 kills) and Ashlyn Smith (16). That relentless attack mindset was clearly defined by Pastusic, who somehow manufactured kill shots from even awkward situations after the Pioneers’ back row (often led by Smith and libero Caroline Childers) dug out ferocious attacks by the Red Tornadoes and kept the ball in play.

Once again, the Pioneers proved to be a serve machine, combining for 11 aces. Pastusic’s five aces came mostly on powerful top-spin deliveries that dropped swiftly over the net and were hard for the Hickory athletes to handle. Graycie Collins added a trio of well placed aces, to go along with a pair by Childers and one by Gragg.

Our attack was relentless.

One of the game stats that stands out for this particular match is the greater defensive success crafted by the Pioneers in recording seven “stuff blocks” on Hickory attacks. Even in their previous four wins on the still early season, this aspect of the Pioneer game was largely missing. At Hickory, three Pioneers recorded two stuff blocks each: Gragg, Kora Knight and Julia Rowan. Smith added another defensive gem.

“In any game,” said Watauga head coach Kim Pryor, “you have to adjust to what (your opponent) is doing. Early on, Hickory was hitting holes they weren’t hitting last time we played. Give them credit because they adjusted to some of the things we were doing. So we had to adjust back. It took us a minute.”

Even though the Pioneers rallied to squeak out a first set win, Pryor said she hold her players, “That is not our best game.”

Pryor reiterated that observation after the visitors lost the second set.

“But we kept getting better and better as we won the third and fourth sets,” said Pryor. “It is all about making adjustments and executing when you see what the other team is doing. I think the real story of this match was our relentless offense. We kept attacking and attacking. We got down, we attacked. We missed a few serves, we attacked. We corrected a few mistakes and finished strong.”

Smith, the Pioneers’ junior outside hitter, admitted afterwards to “… still being on an adrenaline high. I feel like our whole team was on fire tonight. We played together. Our communication was at a high level and that led to highs in our physical play, as well. I mean, really, we just went out there and had fun. When we have fun and play together, we win. Our unity is strong.”

Next up for Watauga is a High Country rivalry match at Ashe County, on Wednesday, Aug. 27. Varsity first serve is scheduled for 6 p.m., following a 4:30 p.m. junior varsity curtain raiser.

WATAUGA STAT LEADERS

• Kills: Emma Pastusic (24), Ashlyn Smith (16), Kora Knight (5), Lainey Gragg (4), Julia Rowan (4), Addie Stough (2)
• Assists: Lainey Gragg (45), Caroline Childers (4)
• Digs: Caroline Childers (22), Emma Pastusic (13), Ashlyn Smith (10)
• Stuff Blocks: Kora Knight (2), Lainey Gragg (2), Julia Rowan (2), Ashlyn Smith (1)
• Service Aces: Emma Pastusic (5), Graycie Collins (3), Caroline Childers (2), Lainey Gragg (1)

CORRECTION: In our original report, we identified Graycie Phelps (No. 1) as having served a trio of service aces. We should have identified that player as Graycie Collins (No. 11). We apologize for the misidentification.

JV

Watauga’s junior varsity won in straight sets, 25-18, 25-17. Statistical leaders included:

• Haileigh Peele: 7 kills, 2 service aces, 2 digs
• Adeline Tate: 4 kills
• Mia Mitchell: 12 assists, 3 service aces, 2 digs
• Ember Honeycutt: 22 digs, 2 service aces
• Kelbey Windish: 5 digs, 1 service ace

BONUS PHOTOS

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Unity, said Watauga’s junior outside hitter Ashlyn Smith afterwards, was the key to the Pioneers’ two, 3-set sweeps of visiting North Iredell and Providence on Aug. 23, at Lentz Eggers Gym. The Boone volleyballers certainly seemed to be “clicking” against the Raiders in the morning tilt (25-12, 25-17, 25-12) and vs. the Panthers in the nightcap (25-11, 25-14, 25-19).

“There was so much growth today, across offense, defense and across every player. We are playing together. Unity on our team is so strong right now. Coming off these wins as well as our first loss, we have just come out, ready to win. Our unity really makes us play together,” said a smiling Smith.

Middle blocker Kora Knight had six kills in each of the matches against North Iredell and Providence, adding a couple of stuff blocks against the Raiders and a pair of digs against the Panthers.

“We have connected in multiple, different ways,” said Knight after the Providence match. “It was nice to play against a slower team to make sure we (worked) some things out. We played our strongest rotation first (to aim for an early lead). And our serving tonight was really good. We have been working on that a lot in practice.”

In the middle of the first set, with the scored tied, 8-8, Watauga finally gained separation on the scoreboard. A lot of that came with sophomore libero Carolina Childers serving, running off a string of miscues by Providence in serve receive. Apparently, good serving was contagious, because against Providence the Pioneers rattled off a whopping 13 service aces as a team, five by Childers.

“In the middle of the match,” said Watauga head coach Kim Pryor, “I asked how many aces we had. That had become a huge part of our game. Aces can be such a lift as you are going through the grind of a match. Aces can separate you from other teams. That was great to see us getting the ball to the right places and getting our serves in, honestly. You can crank out a good lead if you can get some aces.”

Pryor shared that in practice the team has been working purposefully on the serving skills.

“In general, we are trying to have better speed, velocity, on the ball. That velocity should result in more aces but the balance there is the potential for more misses. But we are getting good balance now, getting balls in with good velocity and getting them to the right spots,” said Pryor.

Since the season-opening, 3-1 loss to Hickory on Aug. 11, the Pioneers have reeled off four straight victories against historically tough opponents in West Wilkes, Southwestern Randolph, North Iredell and Providence. All have been 3-0 sweeps.

On Monday, Aug. 25, Watauga will have an opportunity to exact a measure of revenge for that one loss when they travel to Hickory for a rematch against the Red Tornadoes. They’ll follow that up with three more scheduled, non-conference matches on the road against Ashe County (Aug. 27), Forbush (Aug. 28) and at A.L. Brown (Sept. 3), before returning home for a final non-conference contest vs. Hickory Christian Academy (Sept. 4). They begin 6A/7A Northwestern Conference play on the road on Sept. 9, at Freedom (Morganton).

STATISTICAL LEADERS vs. PROVIDENCE

• Kills: Emma Pastusic (18), Addi Stough (7), Kora Knight (6), Ashlyn Smith (5)
• Assists: Lainey Gragg (35), Caroline Childers (3), Ava Zaragoza (2)
• Digs: Caroline Childers (15), Lilli Combs (11), Ashlyn Smith (8)
• Service Aces: Caroline Childers (5), Ashlyn Smith (4), Emma Pastusic (2)

STATISTICAL LEADERS vs. NORTH IREDELL

• Kills: Emma Pastusic (14), Ashlyn Smith (11), Kora Knight (6), Addie Stough (4)
• Assists: Lainey Gragg (37)
• Digs: Ashlyn Smith (17), Caroline Childers (13), Lilli Combs (9)
• Stuff Blocks: Kora Knight (2), Addie Stough (1), Ashlyn Smith (1), Julia Rowan (1)
• Service Aces: Ashlyn Smith (3), Caroline Childers (3), Emma Pastusic (2)

BONUS PHOTOS

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — For a season opening high school football game, there was plenty of action on both sides of the ball, Aug. 22, between host Watauga and visiting High Country rival, Ashe County — at least for the Pioneers, who ran away with this one, 56-7.

While Pioneer head coach Ryan Habich said afterwards there was plenty to “clean up” in executing play on offense, defense and special teams, he was pleased with the obvious connections between his playmakers, including Cade Keller, Evan Burroughs, Everett Gryder, Nyle Peays, Thomas Dieters and transfer Bowen Mayo.

SELECTED STATS

• Watauga QB Cade Keller completed 8-of-8 passes for 262 yards and 4 TDs
• Watauga Rushing
  • Keller: 3 carries for 48 yards, 1 D
  • Burroughs: 1 carry for 31 yards
  • Gryder: 9 carries for 59 yards, 1 TD
• Watauga Receiving
  • Burroughs: 4 catches for 193 yards, 3 TDs

Stats compiled by Watauga Football, subject to later corrections

BONUS PHOTOS

All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports

Se

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was a night of celebrations, including a birthday (senior Emma Pastusic) and 1,000 career assists (junior Lainey Gragg) — and when the last point had been scored vs. NCHSAA 2A power Southwestern Randolph, Watauga Volleyball had even more to celebrate: a three-set sweep, 25-4, 25-20, 25-22.

Warming up, Southwestern Randolph’s volleyball team looked the part of their pedigree. According to MaxPreps, the Cougars finished No. 9 in the state 2A rankings in 2024-25, No. 3 in 2023-24, No. 4 in 2022-23, and state champions in 2021-22.

All that “look” fell by the wayside in facing host Watauga on Aug. 20 in Lentz Eggers Gym. The Pioneers were “firing on all cylinders,” as head coach Kim Pryor put it afterwards, running the score up to 12-0 before Southwestern Randolph smelled the scoreboard. At 19-2, the rout was on and it hardly got any better for the visitors by the end, losing 25-4.

But the first set prelude was hardly a harbinger of things to come. The Cougars gathered themselves and made the second and third sets more in keeping with what the crowded onlookers might have expected.

In set two, Southwestern Randolph jumped out to an early lead against a lineup that included almost all of the Pioneer starters as Pryor looked to increase court time for a sprinkling of reserves. But Watauga got back in synch and rallied back to tie the score at 8-8, beginning a competitive, see-saw battle the Pioneers eventually won, 25-20.

Set 3 was more of the same, with even more of the Pioneers seeing some of the non-conference action. The early season, after all, is the time when teamwork is emphasized by Pryor and her coaching staff, regardless of who is on the court representing the Pioneers.

“Southwestern Randolph is an amazing team,” said Watauga head coach Kim Pryor afterwards. “They’ve won a state championship within the last five years. They are well coached and a gritty team. We came out firing on all cylinders. It was the best we have been in synch all year. What we were doing was clicking. We have been working  on our setter-hitter connection and the girls’ serving tonight was (really good). It was such a complete team (win). The girls brought both sides of the ball together tonight.

Watauga’s senior outside hitter Emma Pastusic knew to expect a battle from Southwestern Randolph, in spite of the Pioneers’ first set dominance.

“We went five sets with them last year,” said the senior power hitter, “so we knew they are a good team. Their defense was a little iffy (tonight) but their middle blockers are really good.”

“I thought we played really well, especially in the first set,” said Pioneer sophomore libero Caroline Childers after the match. “We were functioning really well as a team. One of the areas we were focused on tonight was the setter to hitter connection. Personally, I worked on serve receive and defense, as well as those critical passes to the setter.

“Covering the areas behind the players up front, blocking, was also a focus for me tonight. Look at it like having their backs,” Childers said, with a smile.

A highlight of the evening was when there was a brief stoppage in play to recognize junior setter Lainey Gragg’s 1,000th career assist.

Statistical leaders for the Pioneer varsity included:

• Kills: Emma Pastusic (19), Ashlyn Smith (9), Julia Rowan (8)
• Assists: Lainey Gragg (43)
• Digs: Caroline Childers (22), Lilli Combs (12), Graycie Phelps (8)
• Blocks: Julia Rowan (2)
• Service Aces: Ashlyn Smith (3), Emma Pastusic (1), Lilli Combs (1), Caroline Childers (1)

Pioneer JVs sweep, too

In the junior varsity curtain raiser for the varsity action, Watauga JV also swept in two sets, 25-22, 25-15. Standouts included setter Mia Mitchell (23 assists), outside hitters Kira Beasley (7 kills) and Adeline Tate (10 kills), and libero Ember Honeycutt (29 digs). Mitchell also added two service aces and six digs.

Up Next

On Saturday, Aug. 23, Watauga hosts North Iredell (Olin, N.C.) and Providence (Charlotte, N.C.) in a Tri-Meet. First match is 10 a.m. in Lentz Eggers Gym.