The Morning After: East & West Volleyball Claim Conference Wins, Cross Country Competes

BLADEN COUNTY, NC - Tuesday night served up victories and milestones for both East Bladen and West Bladen athletics.

Volleyball programs from both schools notched key conference wins, JV squads continued to impress with consistent execution, and athletes hit the trails in cross country competition to round out a packed evening of fall sports.

West Bladen Volleyball

BLADENBORO, NC — The Lady Knights of West Bladen opened Southeastern Conference play with a statement, sweeping Whiteville in three sets to improve to 7-1 overall.

Their dominant performance showcased not only depth at the net but consistency across all rotations.

West took each set with confidence—25-18, 25-18, and 25-11—as the attack spread was balanced and the block presence relentless.

Kali Allen contributed across the board with 1 ace, 4 digs, and an assist. Makenna Thurman led with 6 kills and added a dig, while Jaylyn Clark impressed with 5 kills and 2 blocks.

Kimberly Dowless added 3 kills and a block, and Tahlela Bethea was a defensive wall at the net with 7 blocks and a kill.

Shanna Lewis chipped in 2 kills and 2 digs, and Emmy Bryant brought energy with 1 ace, 2 kills, 6 digs, and 3 assists. Brenna Hester added 3 digs, while Natalee Sykes served 3 aces, made 5 assists, recorded a dig, and scored on 2 tip kills.

Greer Pope commanded the court with 12 assists and 2 aces. Helaina Conklin added 4 kills, 2 digs, and an ace.

Karlee Gause played a critical front-row role, keeping the pressure on with multiple attacking swings that forced defensive adjustments even without recording kills.

West Bladen JV Volleyball

BLADENBORO, NC — The JV Lady Knights continued their hot streak with a 25-7, 25-17 sweep of Whiteville, improving their season record to 7-1.

West Bladen’s youth and versatility were on full display as contributions poured in from nearly every position.

Addi Wilcox led the charge with 7 aces, 4 kills, 13 assists, 3 attacks, and a dig. Kynslie Kinlaw delivered 6 kills, 4 attacks, 6 assists, and 2 aces, controlling tempo at the net. Berkleigh Guy added 2 aces and a clean attack.

Vera Valentiner provided 3 aces, 2 kills, and a dig, while Hailii Andrews and Hadley Dove each delivered service aces that shifted momentum.

Chloe Walters added a pair of digs and assists, and both Maycee Kinlaw and Makenna Bryan notched a kill each. Abigail Dew recorded an ace, and Amiya McCarty-Macfield added 3 aces from the service line.

Though Bristol Allen and Abigail Dicicco didn’t record statistical entries, their court awareness, communication, and movement played a vital role in West’s overall rhythm and energy.

East Bladen Volleyball

ELIZABETHTOWN, NC — East Bladen returned home and picked up a strong 3-1 victory over Union, marking their second win of the year and moving to a 2-2 record in 1A/2A Carolina Conference play.

The Eagles took the first two sets 25-18 and 25-13, dropped the third 16-25, but bounced back in the fourth 25-22 to seal the match.

Taylor Dowless fueled the offense with 15 kills on 21 attacks, backed by 13 serve attempts, 4 aces, and 4 digs. Marlee Potter added 3 aces, 9 attacks, 5 kills, and 3 digs, while Nadya Colon recorded 4 aces, 15 serve attempts, 7 attacks, and a dig.

Mileigh Martin continued her steady contributions with 21 serve attempts, 11 attacks, and 10 digs. Tatum Allen added 2 kills, 4 attacks, 1 ace, and 3 digs, and Gracey Edwards tallied 2 aces, a kill, and a clean serve streak.

Cabria Baldwin contributed a block, 9 attacks, and a kill. Aubrei Nixon notched 7 kills on 10 attacks with 2 digs, and Julia Flowers had 6 attack attempts and a dig.

Ariel Cromartie and Addison Douglas rotated in and provided additional support, with Cromartie logging an attack and two serve attempts.

East Bladen JV Volleyball

ELIZABETHTOWN, NC — The East Bladen JV squad kept their momentum rolling with a 2-0 sweep over Union, pushing their overall record to 8-1. The Eagles won 25-10 and 25-20, controlling both sets from the outset.

Harlie Shaw stood out with 3 aces and 2 kills. Bella Beard added a strong net presence with 4 attacks and 2 kills, while Tenley Dowless posted 3 aces and added a pair of kills of her own.

Julia Flowers contributed across the board with 3 aces, 4 attacks, 3 kills, and a dig. Gracey Edwards delivered 5 attacks and 3 kills. Maylin McMichael added an ace and two attack attempts.

Addison Douglas chipped in 2 aces and an attack, and Chloe Merritt scored on a key kill late in the second set. Avianna Whittington remained active in transition play, helping set the tone on defense and communication.

East Bladen Cross Country

SEVEN SPRINGS, NC — East Bladen’s cross country teams competed at Cliffs of the Neuse on Tuesday.

Though full results were not immediately available at press time, the teams continue to build endurance and race IQ in preparation for upcoming conference meets.

Times and placement details will be updated when official results are confirmed.

West Bladen Tennis

BLADENBORO, NC — West Bladen’s girls tennis team also took the court Tuesday evening but final results were unavailable at the time of publication.

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The Morning After: East & West Volleyball Claim Conference Wins, Cross Country Competes