West Bladen Edges Rival East Bladen in Five-Set Thriller, Eagles JV win
- Austin Smith
- Aug 21
- 3 min read
ELIZABETHTOWN, N.C. — Rivalry nights always bring extra electricity, and Tuesday’s volleyball clash between West Bladen and East Bladen was no exception.
The two county rivals pushed each other to the limit in a five-set classic, with West Bladen pulling out a dramatic 3-2 victory on the road.
A friend of mine who was at the game told me afterwards, “You missed a good one.”
He wasn’t exaggerating.
Varsity Recap
West Bladen came out sharp, taking the opening set 25-17 and following it with a 25-15 win in the second.
Makenna Thurman powered the early run with 19 attacks that turned into 13 kills, while Tahlela Bethea added 5 kills and 4 blocks at the net.
Setting the tone were Natalee Sykes, who spread the ball around with 24 assists to go with 4 kills and 2 digs, and Greer Pope, who notched 30 assists, 6 kills, and an ace.
On the back row, Emmy Bryant made her presence known, serving 7 aces, digging 11 balls, and adding 13 assists in the rally flow.
Contributions came from all corners: Jaylyn Clark tallied 6 kills on 12 swings, Shanna Lewis added 6 kills on 8 attempts, and Halaina Conklin (4 kills) and Kimberly Dowless (2 kills) provided sparks when called on. Even Brenna Hester chipped in a kill, ensuring nearly the entire rotation left its mark.
But East Bladen refused to fold.
The Lady Eagles turned the match around in the third set, pulling out a heart-stopping 29-27 victory. Taylor Dowless carried much of the offensive load with 10 kills on 18 attacks while adding a block and two digs.
Cabria Baldwin was steady in the middle with 7 kills, 2 blocks, and a dig, while Aubrei Nixon was a force at the net with 6 kills and 6 blocks on 12 swings.
East’s defense also came alive. Marlee Potter chipped in 5 kills and 2 digs, Addison Douglas added a kill and 10 digs, and Mileigh Martin helped hold down the back row with 5 digs and 2 assists. Tatum Allen and Nadya Colon each recorded assists and kills in key moments, keeping the Eagles within striking distance.
That momentum carried into the fourth set, where East edged out a 25-22 win to tie the match 2-2. By then, the crowd was on its feet for nearly every rally.
The fifth set was a battle of willpower. West leaned once again on Thurman and Bethea at the net, while Bryant’s serves and digs kept them in position. East countered with Nixon and Baldwin challenging every swing at the net. At 15-all, it was anyone’s game.
The Knights finally broke through, as Lewis and Clark each delivered key swings, and Thurman sealed the match with her 13th kill, giving West a 17-15 victory.
After the match, West Bladen head coach Jessica Rhodes praised both squads for their relentless effort:
“Both teams played exceptionally well. It was a long, hard-fought game filled with intense rallies, you could really see the effort and determination from both sides.”
East Bladen coach Jordan Raynor echoed the same intensity from her side, saying,
“We fought hard as a team the final three sets, but came up short. It was a very intense game.”
JV Recap
The JV rivalry battle was just as competitive. East Bladen claimed the first set 25-18 before holding off a West Bladen rally in the second, escaping with a 26-24 win to sweep the match.
For West, Addy Wilcox led the way with sharp serving and steady setting, while Kensleigh Kinlaw and Berkleigh Guy chipped in key attacks.
Chloe Walters anchored the back row with tough digs, and Hadley Dove provided a strong defensive presence at the net.
East countered with timely contributions from Julia Flowers and Bella Beard on offense, while Addison Douglas and Gracey Edwards made plays defensively to help the Lady Eagles close out both sets.
West Bladen JV coach Bryant praised his team’s resilience despite the loss:
“We started off a bit slow in the first set, but the girls rallied and showed incredible heart. I couldn’t be more proud of their effort.”
From the very first serve, the rivalry match between East and West Bladen was filled with energy, passion, and long rallies that had fans holding their breath.
West Bladen may have walked away with the victory in the varsity matchup, but both programs showed why this matchup always means a little more.
West Bladen Edges Rival East Bladen in Five-Set Thriller, Eagles JV win
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