The Morning After: Lady Knights are 12-2, Lady Eagles Sweep West Columbus

Tuesday night was a busy one for Bladen County athletics, with teams taking the court and the pitch across the region.

West Bladen volleyball found its rhythm again at home, East Bladen volleyball delivered both varsity and JV victories, and West Bladen soccer went toe-to-toe with one of the toughest opponents in the conference.

Each matchup carried its own story, but all three showcased the fight and determination of Bladen County athletes.

West Bladen Volleyball

BLADENBORO, NC — The Lady Knights bounced back in a big way Tuesday night, sweeping Fairmont in three sets and reminding everyone why they sit near the top of the Southeastern Conference standings.

West Bladen improved to 12-2 overall and 6-1 in conference play, a record that currently places them at #23 in the NCHSAA 3A RPI Rankings. That kind of positioning has the Knights looking at a favorable seed once playoff brackets are released later this fall.

After battling through a rough two-week stretch, the Knights looked refreshed and focused, closing out the match in straight sets: 25-22, 25-14, 26-24.

The stat sheet was full of contributions across the lineup:

• Kali Allen chipped in with 2 kills.

• Natalee Sykes delivered 1 ace, 1 kill, and 4 assists.

• Emmy Bryant hustled for 5 digs and added 2 assists.

• Greer Pope set the tone with 10 assists.

• Shanna Lewis contributed an ace, a kill, and a dig.

• Kimberly Dowless was steady at the net with 4 kills, a block, and a tip kill.

• Helaina Conklin added 2 kills, 2 tip kills, and an assist.

• Makenna Thurman tallied 3 kills, 1 tip kill, and 1 dig.

• Tahlela Bethea powered through with 5 kills, 4 blocks, and a dig.

• Karlee Gause added a tip kill, while Brenna Hester anchored the back row defensively.

The Knights return home Thursday to host Red Springs for more conference action.

JV Recap:

The JV Lady Knights also picked up a victory, winning in three sets over Fairmont. Their record now stands at 8-3 on the season, with full stats to come.

East Bladen Volleyball

ELIZABETHTOWN, NC —It was a strong night for East Bladen as well, with the varsity Eagles earning a 3-0 win over West Columbus, a victory that boosts them to 4-5 in the Carolina 1A/2A Conference.

That mark places East Bladen at #41 in the NCHSAA 2A RPI Rankings, which would currently put them inside the playoff picture.

Once the win is added into the system, there’s potential for an even higher bump.

JV Recap:

The junior varsity squad capped off two days of back-to-back action with two straight wins.

On Monday, East Bladen edged South Columbus in three sets: 25-21, 22-25, 15-12.

On Tuesday, they carried that momentum into a dominant two-set sweep of West Columbus, winning 25-12, 25-12.

The JV Eagles are now 11-5 overall.

Combined JV Stats (from both matches):

• Harlie Shaw: 1 ace, 4 attacks, 4 kills, 4 digs

• Bella Beard: 5 aces, 17 attacks, 6 kills, 9 digs

• Tenley Dowless: 2 aces, 4 attacks, 11 kills, 4 assists, 1 block, 3 digs

• Maylin McMichael: 1 ace, 5 attacks, 1 kill, 1 block, 10 digs

• Julia Flowers: 2 aces, 12 attacks, 9 kills, 8 digs

• Gracey Edwards: 11 attacks, 6 kills

• Addison Douglas: 1 attack, 1 kill, 16 digs

• Chloe Merritt: 4 assists, 1 dig

• Avianna Whittington: 1 ace, 1 dig

West Bladen Soccer

SOUTHPORT, NC — On the pitch, West Bladen traveled to face powerhouse South Brunswick and came up just short in a 1-0 loss.

South Brunswick, the top team in the Southeastern Conference, proved to be a difficult challenge, but the Knights showed grit and resilience. Despite the loss, the Knights remain within striking distance of turning their season around.

West Bladen sits at 3-8-1 overall and 1-2 in conference play, but six of their eight losses have been decided by just a single goal.

That consistency keeps the door open for a turnaround.

The Knights will look to bounce back Monday when they host Whiteville.

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The Morning After: Lady Knights are 12-2, Lady Eagles Sweep West Columbus