North Gaston wraps up first outright title in 28 years

DALLAS - The volleyball championship banner in North Gaston's gym hasn't been updated in a while.

There's been nothing to add since 1995.

But the Wildcats will soon be attaching a new number after they wrapped up the outright Big South 3A/4A Conference title with Tuesday's 3-0 (25-17, 25-11, 25-23) win over South Point.

"That's too many years to put a ball on the wall, but we're happy it's us doing it," North Gaston coach Janice James said.

North Gaston hadn't won a conference title since 1995 but it had been longer since the school's last solo championship (1980). The school also won conference titles in 1977, 1978 and 1979.

North Gaston (15-7 overall) finished its league schedule with an 11-1 record. The Wildcats had already handed two losses to three-time reigning Big South champ Crest, allowing them to clinch the outright title Tuesday.

"We've done a tremendous job this year taking care of the ball, taking care of every point and then the wins take care of themselves," James said.

Tuesday's game was a team effort.

Sophomore outside hitter Caitlin Rubow had eight kills and missed only one hit all night. Middle hitter Jordan Vanderford, the team's only senior, served 18 points, including three aces. She also had four kills, went 14-for-17 from the attack line and had five blocks.

Carolyn Houser attacked at 100 percent as a setter and tallied 53 assists, seven digs, two kills and two aces. Sidney Mitchell (five kills) and Katie White (one kill, three aces, two blocks) each missed only one hit all night.

Other contributors included Melissa Blanton (four kills, one ace, two blocks), Caroline Clemmer (one kill), Ashley Almond (eight digs, 26 assists, two aces), Carter Thomas (24 digs) and Hali Passmore (14 digs).

South Point (4-7 Big South) took North Gaston to five games in the previous meeting, but the Wildcats made quick work of the Red Raiders this time.

They scored the final three points in the first game for a 25-17 win, then opened an 11-3 lead in the second game on their way to a 25-11 win. South Point led the final game 17-11 and 18-14 before North Gaston stormed from behind and closed the match with a 25-23 score.

"Last time we played (South Point) we wanted it but we didn't show it like this," Vanderford said. "Tonight was just amazing. Everybody was communicating and talking and hustling, and we just gave it all we had."

The Wildcats will play host to North Lincoln in a non-conference match Thursday, when the rest of the Big South finishes league play. North Gaston earned a first-round bye in next week's conference tournament and will host the semifinals and finals Oct. 15 and 16.

North Gaston had already earned the Big South's top 3A seed for the state playoffs and will play host to the North Piedmont's No. 6 seed in the first round Oct. 18.

South Point will take the Big South's No. 3 seed into the 3A brackets.

You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.