Mooresville’s Gia Lowe is The Observer’s girls’ high school athlete of the week
Mooresville High School volleyball player Gia Lowe is the first Charlotte Observer girls’ high school athlete of the week for the 2025-26 school year.
The Blue Devils’ outside hitter had 33 kills, 17 digs, three blocks and two aces in two games combined as Mooresville won 3-0 at North Mecklenburg on Aug. 13 and lost 3-0 at Pine Lake Prep the next day.
Lowe had 23 kills, 18 digs, five aces and three blocks in three matches as Mooresville (4-1) went 3-0 at the Queen City Showcase at Bradford Prep, beating the College Prep and Leadership Academy (2-0), host Bradford Prep (2-0) and Durham’s North Carolina School of Science and Math (2-0) on Aug. 16.
Lowe has more than 1,000 kills in her career.
Here are the other finalists
Emily Allen, Cherryville volleyball, Sr.: The Ironmen setter had 15 assists, three kills, three aces and three digs in a 3-0 win over Thomas Jefferson Academy on Aug. 11.
The next day, Allen had 21 assists, six kills, two aces and two digs in a 3-0 victory at North Gaston.
Mallory Aull, Pine Lake Prep tennis, So.: The Pride star started her season by winning 6-0, 6-1 at No. 1 singles and 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 doubles with senior Carolina Endsjo to help Lake Norman Charter to a 9-0 win at Christ the King on Aug. 13.
Aull is the defending NCHSAA 2A state singles champion, going 16-0 in singles’ play as a freshman.
Adesnee Camp, Garinger volleyball, Sr.: The Wildcats’ setter led Garinger to its first win of the season, 3-0 over Harding on Aug. 14.
Camp also had three assists, two aces, two digs and a kill in a 3-0 loss to Ballantyne Ridge on Aug. 12.
Sage Duerr, Lake Norman volleyball, Sr.: The Wildcats’ star had nine kills, two blocks, three digs and one ace in a 3-2 loss to Maiden on Aug. 13.
Duerr, a Hobart and Wilson Smith College (N.Y.) commit, also had eight kills, nine blocks, three digs and two aces for Lake Norman (1-1) in a 3-2 loss to Ardrey Kell on Aug. 14
Annie Hitzemann, Charlotte Latin field hockey, Jr.: The Hawks’ forward scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory at Charlotte Catholic on Aug. 13.
Charlotte Latin (3-0-1) also beat Carrboro (3-1) and Forsyth Country Day (8-0) and tied Chapel Hill (1-1) in the Cary Academy tournament Aug. 15-16. Hitzemann did not play in the tournament because of a hand injury, according to Hawks coach Joey Prestidge.
Radnyi Karadkar, Ardrey Kell cross-country, Sr.: The Knights’ star ran a personal-best time of 13:57.76 to finish in sixth in the girls’ senior race at the Clash of the Classes on the Watauga High course in Boone on Aug. 16.
Karadkar’s efforts also helped the Ardrey Kell to a first-place finish at the same event, beating host Watauga by six points.
Karadkar’s time was nearly 28 seconds faster than her time at the Clash of the Classes last year.
Mary Ellen Lovelace, Gaston Day volleyball, Sr.: The Spartans’ setter had 36 assists and 13 digs to lead Gaston Day to a 3-0 win over Covenant Day in its season opener on Aug. 12.
Lovelace is an all-state setter for the reigning NCISAA 2A state champions.
Ava Nadeau, Charlotte Latin volleyball, Jr.: The Hawks’ outside hitter had a season-best 18 kills to go with five digs and one block in a 3-0 win over Christ the King on Aug. 12.
Nadeau has 60 kills, 28 digs and seven aces for a Charlotte Latin team that is 6-0 this season.
Kaylee Ward, West Lincoln volleyball, Jr.: The Rebels’ libero had 10 digs, three aces, three assists, two kills and 12 serves received in a 3-0 win at North Gaston on Aug. 14.
Ward also had 24 digs, six assists and 30 serves received in a 3-2 loss at East Rutherford on Aug. 12.
Note: Information published included statistics through Aug. 16.
This story was originally published August 18, 2025 at 8:19 PM with the headline "Mooresville’s Gia Lowe is The Observer’s girls’ high school athlete of the week."
