North Meck’s Scholar Bates is The Observer’s girls’ high school athlete of the week
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Twelve student-athletes received nominations for weekly Observer honors
- Volleyball and tennis players led nominations with strong individual stats
- Fans may vote online repeatedly through Friday at noon, Sept. 26, 2025
North Mecklenburg’s Scholar Bates is The Charlotte Observer’s girls’ high school athlete of the week.
The Vikings’ senior had 19 kills, eight digs, one ace and one assist in a 3-1 win at Hough on Sept. 16.
The next day, Bates had 16 kills, seven digs, seven aces and two assists in a 3-0 victory over Lincoln Charter.
Bates has 262 kills, 100 digs, 37 aces and 11 assists for a North Mecklenburg team (12-4) that had won nine straight games through Monday.
Last week’s other finalists
Jaylise Campbell, West Lincoln cross-country: The Rebels’ sophomore ran a 23:30.84 5,000M to win the Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A conference meet at Lincolnton High on Sept. 17.
Campbell ran the race by nearly 52 seconds faster than the runner-up.
Raphaela Carani, Union Academy tennis: The Cardinals’ senior captain won 8-1 at No. 1 singles to help Union Academy to a 8-1 win over Monroe on Sept. 17.
Carani also lost a tough three-setter 4-6, 6-7 (3-6) in a 9-0 loss to North Stanly on Sept. 15.
Carani is 5-3 in singles’ play for Union Academy (4-6) this season.
Brynaya Coles, Rocky River volleyball: The Ravens’ senior had 15 kills, 20 aces and 15 digs to help Rocky River to its first win of the season, a 3-1 victory over Garinger on Sept. 15.
Coles also helped Rocky River to a second win with 13 kills, 18 aces and 12 digs in a 3-2 victory over West Mecklenburg on Sept. 17.
Akira Connor, Lincolnton volleyball: The Wolves’ senior defensive specialist had 22 digs, seven service receptions and two aces in a 3-1 win over West Lincoln on Sept. 16.
Connor also had 10 digs and seven service receptions in a 3-0 loss at East Gaston on Sept. 17.
Connor finished off the week with 33 digs, 30 service receptions and eight aces in a 3-1 victory over Bessemer City on Sept. 18.
Connor has 138 digs, 93 service receptions and 13 aces for Lincolnton (6-6).
Izabella Delli Colli, Parkwood golf: The Wolfpack senior shot a 3-over-par 39 to earn medalist honors in a Rocky River conference match at Red Bridge Golf Club on Sept. 16.
Delli Colli’s play also helped Parkwood to a second-place team finish at the same meet.
Delli Colli is averaging a score of 40.6 per nine holes this season.
Arianna Filpo, Palisades volleyball: The Pumas’ junior captain had 24 kills and seven blocks to help Palisades win three of its last four games through Monday.
Filpo’s play helped Palisades (10-7) to a 2-0 week with wins at Hopewell (3-1, Sept. 16) and over South Mecklenburg (3-0, Sept. 18).
Emilee Ibsen, Gaston Day tennis: The Spartans’ senior won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 singles and 8-1 at No. 1 doubles with classmate Avery Shaffer to lead Gaston Day to a 8-1 victory over Asheville School on Sept. 16.
Ibsen also won 8-0 at both No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles (with Shaffer) in an 8-1 victory over Gaston Christian on Sept. 18.
The next day, Ibsen won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles and 8-0 in doubles (with Shaffer) as Gaston Day won 9-0 at Hickory Christian.
Ibsen is 11-0 in both singles and doubles’ play for Gaston Day (11-0) through Monday.
Jordan Loftis, Ardrey Kell field hockey: The Knights’ junior forward scored three goals in a 5-2 win over Asheville School on Sept. 16.
Loftis has six goals and one assist for Ardrey Kell (3-7) through Monday.
Olivia Roark, Charlotte Country Day volleyball: The Buccaneers’ senior outside hitter had nine kills, seven digs, two aces, two assists and one block in 3-0 win at Charlotte Christian on Sept. 16.
Roark also had 15 digs, six kills, three aces, two assists and one block in a 3-1 win over Charlotte Latin on Sept. 18.
Roark has 107 kills, 138 digs, 19 aces, 18 blocks and 16 assists for a Charlotte Country Day team (9-5) that has won six straight games this season.
Alden Schwartz, Bradford Prep volleyball: The Bears’ senior had 24 kills (including her 500th career kill) and four blocks in a 3-2 win over Mountain Island Charter on Sept. 15. Bradford Prep’s victory was its first ever against Mountain Island Charter.
Schwartz also had 22 kills and three blocks in a 3-0 win at Corvian Charter on Sept. 16.
Schwartz finished off the week with 18 kills and three blocks in a 3-1 victory at Langtree Charter on Sept. 18.
Schwartz has 221 kills and and 42 blocks for Bradford Prep (11-6) through Monday.
Gracie Song, Cuthbertson golf: The Cavaliers’ senior shot a 2-under-par 34 to finish as co-medalist in a Southern Carolinas’ conference match at the Country Club of the Carolinas on Sept. 15.
Song also shot a 1-under-par 70 to finish tied for third at the North State Challenge Tournament at Keith Hills’ Golf Club in Buies Creek.
Song earned first-team all-tournament honors for her play.
Note: Information published today includes statistics through September 20.
Previous winners
Week 1: Gia Lowe, Mooresville
Week 2: Salah Dellinger, Ambassador Christian
Week 3: Juliana Andrea Castellanos Trujillo, Ballantyne Ridge
Week 4: Lillian Broadway, Piedmont
Week 5: Savannah Payne, North Lincoln
Week 6: Scholar Bates, North Mecklenburg
This story was originally published September 22, 2025 at 8:10 PM with the headline "North Meck’s Scholar Bates is The Observer’s girls’ high school athlete of the week."
