Talent abounds on south Charlotte courts | Charlotte Observer

South Charlotte was home to two volleyball state champions this year.

Providence High, the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A state champion, went 31-2 on their way to the program's fifth state championship.

Charlotte Latin and coach Suzie Pignetti won an unprecedented eighth straight N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association state championship, going 40-2.

Ardrey Kell was tough all year in the Southwestern 4A, going 26-3 overall and also knocking off Providence in the SW4A tournament title game.

Charlotte Catholic, a perennial 3A power, had another standout season, going 23-6 and falling in the third round of the playoffs.

Charlotte Country Day (23-11) made it to the NCISAA 3A state semifinals and Charlotte Christian won 24 games, making it to the state quarterfinals.

Co-players of the Year: Eve Davis, Charlotte Latin and Casey Rieger, Providence - Davis and Rieger were expected to be two of the best players in the state after earning conference player of the year and all-state honors in their sophomore seasons.

This year, the juniors led their teams to state titles.

Davis had big-time numbers again, registering an Observer area best 599 kills to earn NCISAA all-state honors and a state title for the third time in as many seasons.

Rieger (team-best 316 kills) was named SW4A Player of the Year for the second consecutive year after leading the Panthers to a 4A state title win over Wilmington Hoggard.

Coach of the Year: Karen Bradbury, Providence - Bradbury had been close to winning a state title at Providence before with state runner-up finishes in 2006 and 2010. This year, Bradbury finally got her first state championship ring as a head coach, leading Providence to a 31-2 record. The school's first four state titles came under Bradbury's mentor, Zoe Bell, now the head coach at Ardrey Kell.