West Bladen Volleyball Sweeps West Columbus at Home

BLADENBORO, NC — The West Bladen Lady Knights opened their home match in Bladenboro with confidence and never looked back, defeating West Columbus in straight sets (25-12, 25-10, 25-18). The win pushed the varsity squad to a 2-0 record on the young season.

From the first serve to the final point, West Bladen played with poise and energy, spreading the impact across the entire roster.

Varsity head coach Jessica Rhodes summed it up best, saying, “Love the teamwork and contributions across the board for the team!”

Tahlela Bethea was a force at the net, racking up 8 kills and a block, while senior Makenna Thurman kept the offense rolling with 9 kills and 2 aces.

Greer Pope filled the stat sheet with 6 aces, 4 kills, and multiple assists, and setter Natalee Sykes set the tone with 3 aces, 1 kill, and steady passing to keep the Knights in rhythm.

The Lady Knights also had strong contributions from across the court.

Kali Allen’s 3 aces and timely dig gave momentum at key points, while Emmy Bryant anchored the back row with 3 digs, 2 assists, and several clean passes that set up scoring chances.

Jaylyn Clark and Shanna Lewis both added versatility, with Clark chipping in 2 aces, a kill, and a block, and Lewis delivering 3 kills and an ace.

The sweep not only showed West Bladen’s depth but also the chemistry the group is continuing to build early in the season.

Junior Varsity Sets the Tone

In the opener, West Bladen’s JV squad set the standard with a 2–0 victory over West Columbus, taking the sets 25-14 and 25-11. The JV Lady Knights also improved to 2-0 on the season.

Freshman Kensleigh Kinlaw led the charge with 3 aces, 5 kills, and a back-row putaway, while fellow freshman Berkleigh Guy guided the offense with 8 assists to go with 2 aces and a kill.

Sophomore Addy Wilcox balanced things out with 6 assists, 2 kills, and 2 aces, and Bristol Allen gave the Knights a boost at the service line, tallying 5 aces.

Defensively, Chloe Walters made her presence felt with 2 back-row kills and 3 assists, while Hadley Dove (a well placed kill), Hailii Andrews (1 aces and 1 kill), Abigail DiCicco (crucial serves and 1 ace), and Maycee Kinlaw all chipped in with timely plays to keep the Knights rolling. Sophomore Makenna Bryan also provided steady saves in key moments.

JV coach Bryant praised her team’s effort afterward, saying, “I’m so proud of how these girls played tonight. They trusted each other, hustled for every point, and really worked as a team. When they play like this, there’s no limit to what they can accomplish.”

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West Bladen Volleyball Sweeps West Columbus at Home