Faces of a new fall sports season:Meet some of the area’s top athletes

By Jay Edwards

Correspondent

Updated August 15, 2016 7:36 PM

Observer-area high school athletes to watch this fall: Front, left to right: Reed Hunnicutt, South Mecklenburg (boys’ soccer); Emily Anderson, Porter Ridge (girls’ golf); Olivia Archer, Lake Norman Charter (girls’ tennis). Back row, left to right: Noah Dolhare, Providence Day (boys’ cross country); Sarah Billiard, Covenant Day (volleyball); Lexi King, Marvin Ridge (girls’ cross country); and Camille Kane, Charlotte Latin (field hockey). David T. Foster III dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com

With the fall sports season starting this week for most high schools, the Observer is profiling several of the area’s top athletes.

For in-depth stories on these athletes, teams and players to watch in each fall sport, visit charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school

Boys’ soccer

Name: Reed Hunnicutt, senior

School: South Mecklenburg

2015 statistics: 10 goals, 22 assists.

Why him: All-state outside midfielder last season, when he had 10 goals and 22 assists. ... Hunnicutt, who has committed to play in college at Appalachian State, could have a bigger impact playing forward and midfielder this season. ... Chosen to play in the Boys’ High School All-American in Raleigh in December.

Volleyball

Name: Sarah Billiard, senior

School: Covenant Day

2015 statistics: 522 kills, 69 aces, 424 digs.

Why her: Billiard, a two-time all-state outside hitter, will play at Virginia. ...At 6-foot, she uses size and athletic ability to dominate in nearly every phase for the Lions, who’ve won NCISAA 3A state championships the past three seasons.

Girls’ tennis

Name: Olivia Archer, junior

School: Lake Norman Charter

2015 statistics: Two-time NCHSAA 2A doubles state champion was 19-0 last season with her partner, sister Hannah. ... Olivia’s record is 34-1 the past two seasons in singles.

Why her: She has won the 2A doubles and 2A team state championships in each of her first two high school seasons.

Girls’ golf

Name: Emily Anderson, senior

School: Porter Ridge

2015 statistics: Southwestern 4A conference runner-up. ...Was medalist in each of her regular-season matches. ...Finished fourth at the 4A West Regional and 24th at the state 4A meet.

Why her: Anderson was medalist in each of her regular-season matches the past two years.

Boys’ cross country

Name: Noah Dolhare, junior

School: Providence Day

2015 statistics: Ran personal-best 16:02.50 to finish third at N.C. Independent Schools meet. ... Was CISAA conference champion.

Why him: Had breakout sophomore season, winning the CISAA conference title and placing third at the state championship meet. ... Also won his first individual state title last spring (3200-meter outdoor track).

Girls’ cross country

Name: Lexi King, senior

School: Marvin Ridge

2015 statistics: Won Southern Carolinas Conference (SCC) and 3A Midwest Regional championships for third consecutive year. ... Was fourth at state meet for the second straight year.

Why her: Has been all-state three times, aiming for individual and team state championships.

Field hockey

Name: Camille Kane, senior

School: Charlotte Latin

2015 statistics: Led Hawks with 18 goals, 17 assists.

Why her: All-South Region and all-state pick committed to Virginia. She’ll try to lead Latin to its second straight NCISAA championship.

This story was originally published August 15, 2016 at 7:13 PM with the headline "Faces of a new fall sports season:Meet some of the area’s top athletes."