The East Bladen Lady Eagles volleyball team traveled to Lakewood High School Tuesday night with momentum on their side and proved they belonged on the big stage against one of the state’s elite programs.

It’s been a season to remember for the West Bladen Lady Knights volleyball team. On Thursday night, they wrapped up regular season play at home against conference powerhouse South Brunswick, a match that ended in a 3–0 loss, but hardly overshadowed what this team accomplished in 2025. The Lady Knights finished the regular season with a 14–3 overall record and 8–2 mark in the 3A/4A/5A Southeastern Conference.

The energy surrounding West Bladen Volleyball is building with every serve, every block, and every celebration. The Lady Knights went on the road Tuesday night and came home with a hard-fought five-set victory over South Columbus, a win that now sets the stage for one of the biggest games in program history.

East Bladen made the trip to Union on Thursday night and came home with a sweep at both the varsity and junior varsity levels, a night that bolstered the Eagles’ momentum in conference play and strengthened their postseason position.

The Lady Knights of West Bladen kept their playoff push rolling in emphatic fashion Thursday night, sweeping Red Springs in straight sets on Pink It Out Night. The gym was filled with pink uniforms and energy as West Bladen controlled every phase of the match in a 25-9, 25-6, 25-10 victory.

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.

The Morning After: High School Recap from Monday, September 23rd, 2025.

West Bladen Volleyball showed grit and depth on Thursday night, rallying after a slow start to knock off South Columbus in four sets. The win pushed the Lady Knights to 10-1 overall and 4-0 in the Southeastern 3A/4A/5A Conference, keeping them unbeaten in league play. With the victory, they now set their sights on Tuesday’s matchup at South Brunswick — a battle of conference leaders, each entering at 4-0.

Tuesday night brought plenty of action across the county as volleyball and tennis teams took the courts. West Bladen continued to build momentum with a convincing sweep in Red Springs and a tennis doubleheader sweep at home, while East Bladen battled through a tough matchup in Elizabethtown with both its varsity and junior varsity squads seeing extended rallies.

Tuesday evening was packed with middle school action across the county as soccer and volleyball teams took the field and court. From streaks being extended to first-time scorers making their mark, the night offered a mix of dominant wins, tough battles, and promising signs for the future. Tar Heel, Bladenboro, Clarkton, and Emereau all had moments that stood out, giving fans plenty to cheer about and plenty of storylines as the season continues.

Thursday night featured a packed slate across Bladen County. West Bladen volleyball kept its momentum rolling, East Bladen varsity picked up another important win, and the Knights’ soccer team faced one of its toughest nights on the road.

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.

Tuesday night delivered a thrilling slate of middle school action across Bladen County, highlighted by the continued dominance of Bladenboro’s girls soccer program. The streak, now stretching back to 2022, marks 21 straight wins.

Wins, Shutouts, and Streaks Headline Monday Night in Bladen County Monday evening was a strong showing for Bladen County athletics. From middle school soccer dominance to varsity-level statement wins and competitive matchups, the night delivered results that spoke to both progress and momentum. Here’s a full breakdown of Monday’s highlights across the county.

Wins across the board. That’s the story from Thursday night in Bladen County. West Bladen boys soccer pulled out a gritty win to close out a grueling three-game stretch. East Bladen soccer responded to Tuesday’s setback with a 9-goal outburst. Meanwhile, East Bladen volleyball notched its first varsity win of the season, and the JV team kept the momentum going with a straight-sets sweep of their own.

The Morning After…and on time today, too. With a full slate of games across Bladen County, we’ve got everything from volleyball sweeps

It’s been a long 24 hours of volleyball serves, soccer goals, and cross-county competition — but that’s what makes days like this worth it. Welcome to The Morning After… in the Evening, where we round up all the action from around the county and deliver it straight to you, no matter how packed the schedule (or how late the coffee kicked in). Let’s dive in.

Why “The Morning After”? When Thursday evenings (and many others evenings) get packed with volleyball, football, and middle school matchups, it makes sense to bring everything together in one place. Rather than flooding the site with separate articles, The Morning After gives you a snapshot of all the action across Bladen County, from JV rivalries to rising middle school talent. Let’s dive in.

In one of the most electric atmospheres of the season so far, the West Bladen Lady Knights continued their unbeaten run Tuesday night, defeating the East Bladen Lady Eagles 3-1 in an intense cross-county rivalry matchup. With the win, West Bladen improved to 5-0 — their best start since the 2019-2020 season — while East Bladen fell to 0-6 but showed promising flashes throughout the night.

The East Bladen Eagles continue to build chemistry and confidence as they navigate the early part of their season. Hosting the Clinton Dark Horses on Tuesday night, the Eagles showed flashes of progress but ultimately fell in straight sets, 3-0, by scores of 25-14, 25-17, and 25-14. While the scoreboard didn’t tilt in East Bladen’s favor, this young squad is steadily learning to play together each outing.