Thursday’s HS Roundup: Mallard Creek coach who dresses different leads Mavs’ volleyball to historic win
By Langston Wertz Jr.lwertz@charlotteobserver.com
Mallard Creek volleyball coach David Brooks is known for his distinct style of dress. He’s also known for his successful teams. His Mavericks are into Saturday’s state quarterfinals.
Special to the Observer
Elevator
↑Ardrey Kell, Providence, Myers Park, Charlotte Catholic dual team girls tennis: All four Mecklenburg County teams advanced to Monday’s state quarterfinals. Pairings below.
↑Providence soccer: beat rival South Meck 2-0 Thursday to win the SoMeck conference championship. Providence star Clement Akerblom entered the game with 30 goals and 20 assists. Providence is coached by Nicholas Sosa, whose brother, Fernando, was a star at Garinger High and with the Charlotte 49ers. Nicholas, who graduated from South Meck, ended up playing professionally overseas in Uruguay.
↑Nick Scibelli, Charlotte Catholic boys basketball: committed Thursday to Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn.
↑Porter Ridge soccer: beat Hickory Ridge 4-1 Thursday to clinch its second straight Southwestern 4A championship
Porter Ridge’s socceer team won its second straight Southwestern 4A championship Thursday night Special to the Observer
Volleyball Update: Hough-Mallard Creek on Elite 8 collision course
Thursday night, I-MECK 4A rivals Hough and Mallard Creek both won third round N.C. 4A volleyball playoff matches. Next up, the two rivals will play each other Saturday for a berth in a N.C. 4A Western Regional championship.
Hough beat Northwest Guilford 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-23). Erin Cooke had 13 assists and 11 kills; Linnea Meletiou had 11 digs; Lana Strejcek had nine kills, two aces; Olivia Cerick had 10 digs, three kills, three aces; and Kaelyn Mulwee had six kills, five aces.
Mallard Creek advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time, beating Lake Norman 3-0. The Mavericks are led by coach David Brooks, who has become known for his style of dress the way former NBA announcer Craig Sager was known for his.
Brooks, in his sixth season, led Mallard Creek to the Elite 8 for the first time in school history.
▪ In 3A, defending state champ Cox Mill beat Watauga 3-0 and will advance to Saturday’s third round at North Iredell.
North Iredell, which beat West Henderson 3-0 Thursday, beat Cox Mill 3-2 in August. Also advancing was Southern Carolinas champ Marvin Ridge. The Mavericks beat China Grove Carson 3-0. Marvin Ridge will host Skyland Roberson Saturday.
▪ In 2A, West Iredell, the No. 1 seed in the west, advanced to the Elite 8 with a 3-0 win over Canton Pisgah. East Lincoln, the No. 3 seed, advanced with a shutout of R-S Central.
▪ In private schools, Charlotte Country Day (24-4) faces North Raleigh Christian (26-1) in a 5 p.m. 3A semifinal Friday at High Point Wesleyan. In 1A, Statesville Christian (24-1) faces Kerr-Vance Academy (29-1) for the state championship Saturday at 10 a.m. at Wesleyan.
NCHSAA Fall Sports Playoff Update
GIRLS DUAL TEAM TENNIS
Class 4A
Tuesday
Greensboro Page 6, Lake Norman 0
Ardrey Kell 5, Mooresville 4
Myers Park 5, Winston-Salem Reynolds 0
Providence 5, Hough 4
Raleigh Enloe (13-4) at Wilmington Hoggard (14-2), score NA
