Davidson Day’s Dara Polk is The Observer’s girls’ athlete of the week.

Davidson Day’s Dara Polk is The Charlotte Observer’s girls’ high school athlete of the week.

Polk is a freshman volleyball setter for the Patriots. She had had nine assists, 11 kills, four digs and four aces in 3-0 win at Caldwell Academy on Oct. 6.

Polk also had 13 assists, 10 digs, nine kills and three aces in a 3-0 victory over Winston-Salem Christian on Oct. 9.

Polk has 189 kills, 198 digs, 301 assists and 40 aces for Davidson Day (16-10) this season.

Last week’s other finalists

Moorea Atkins, Ardrey Kell volleyball: The Knights’ junior outside hitter had 23 kills, 17 digs and one ace in two matches as Ardrey Kell clinched the Southwestern 7A/8A conference title with wins at East Mecklenburg 3-0, on Oct. 7, and a 3-0 victory over Providence on Oct. 9.

Ardrey Kell finished the regular season 17-9 overall, including a perfect 10-0 in Southwestern 7A/8A conference play.

Emma Balaban, Weddington cross-country: The Warriors’ sophomore ran a personal-best time of 17 minutes, 25.90 seconds to win the Union County championship by nearly 11 seconds at McAlpine Creek Park on Oct. 8.

Balaban’s efforts also helped Weddington to a third-place finish at the same meet.

Charlee Bradford, East Lincoln volleyball: The Mustangs’ senior middle blocker had nine kills and 19 blocks in two matches against East Lincoln on Oct. 7 and Kings Mountain on Oct. 8.

Bradford is a Carson-Newman University commit.

Cate Brinley, Providence Day field hockey: The Chargers’ all-state senior had one assist in a 2-0 win at Covenant Day on Oct. 6.

The next day, Brinley had another assist in a 5-0 victory over Weddington.

Brinley finished off the week with one more assist in a 5-3 win over Charlotte Latin.

Brinley has four assists for Providence Day (11-7-1) this season.

Kasey Dingman, Lake Norman cross-country: The Wildcats’ senior ran a 17:53.58 to win the North Piedmont conference championship by nearly 38 seconds at McAnderson Park in Statesville on Oct. 9.

Dingman also led Lake Norman to an conference team title the same day.

Melony Hoffman, West Lincoln golf: The Rebels’ senior tied a school-record over 18 holes, shooting a 76 to earn co-medalist honors in a Southern Piedmont conference match at Lincolnton Country Club on Oct. 7.

Hoffman led West Lincoln to a second-place finish in the nine-team field.

Hoffman also earned medalist honors for the 23rd time in her career, a new a school record.

Addison Kampas, Ardrey Kell field hockey: The Knights’ senior scored the first goal of her Ardrey Kell career and then netted the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over Carolina Day on Oct. 8.

Kampas is playing her first year of field hockey ever for Ardrey Kell (5-12) this season.

Caiah Lee, Myers Park volleyball: The Mustangs’ senior had 96 kills in three matches last week as Myers Park won 3-0 over South Mecklenburg on Oct. 9, and lost at Butler (3-1, Oct. 6) and at Hough (3-0, Oct. 7).

Myers Park is 13-7 overall this season.

Gia Lowe, Mooresville volleyball: The Blue Devils’ senior had 15 kills, 18 digs, four blocks and one ace in a 3-1 win over Davie County on Oct. 7.

Lowe also had 14 kills, nine digs and an ace in 3-0 victory over Statesville on Oct. 9.

Lowe has 357 kills, 340 digs, 46 aces and 31 blocks for Mooresville (17-5) this season.

Ada Savage, Myers Park field hockey: The Mustangs’ junior forward scored one goal and had three assists in a 7-1 win over South Mecklenburg on Oct. 9.

Myers Park (10-7) also won 3-0 over Providence on Oct. 6, and 6-0 over Cuthbertson on Oct. 7.

Savage has three goals and 11 assists for the Mustangs this season.

Madison Schwartz, Charlotte Catholic field hockey: The Cougars’ junior goalkeeper had five saves, helping Charlotte Catholic to a 1-0 shutout of Marvin Ridge on Oct. 7.

The next day, Schwartz led Charlotte Catholic to another shutout, a 10-0 win at Ballantyne Ridge.

Schwartz finished off the week with three more saves in a 6-0 shutout victory over Asheville School on Oct. 9.

Schwartz has nine shutouts, 37 saves and has allowed just six goals in 14 games for Charlotte Catholic (10-4) this season.

Note: Information published today includes statistics through October 11.

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

Week 7: Zoey Schatz, Pine Lake Prep

Week 8: Reece Jones, Ballantyne Ridge

Week 9: Dara Polk, Davidson Day

This story was originally published October 13, 2025 at 8:10 PM with the headline "Davidson Day’s Dara Polk is The Observer’s girls’ athlete of the week.."