Marvin Ridge, Community School, Lake Norman Charter win NCHSAA volleyball titles
Marvin Ridge volleyball is a state champion again, and Lake Norman Charter is a state champion for the first time.
Community School of Davidson is a champion for a third time.
First, the Mavericks from Union County.
After losing to Cardinal Gibbons in the NCHSAA 4A state championship game a year ago, Marvin Ridge went back to the finals on Friday and beat Greenville’s DH Conley in the first 7A final in state history.
It’s the first state title for Marvin Ridge since it won the 3A state title in 2018. It’s the Mavericks’ second overall.
The NCHSAA went from four classes to eight this season and is holding eight state championships, in Winston-Salem and Raleigh, this weekend.
“It’s indescribable, from us knowing that we were leaving to the commitment these girls had,” Marvin Ridge coach Brooke Hammers said. “They kept me here as long as I possibly could, that’s for sure, and I was all in.”
After the game, Hammers told the media that she is moving to Florida and that she coached her last game at Marvin Ridge.
It was a memorable win.
Hammers’ team won the first two sets in the best of five, 25-20 and 25-10. But Conley got back in it, led by N.C. State commit Britni Silver, winning the third set 25-20. And in the fourth set, Conley was threatening to tie the match, often leading by two points.
But at 19-17, the Mavericks got a couple of quick points — on a kill and a Conley miss — and took the lead on another kill.
“We’ve been down before,” Hammers said after the game. “We gotta fight, we gotta take it from them. We’re not going to roll over.”
After that, just like their coach said, the Mavericks began to roll, led by 6-2 senior Natalie Unkrich, who has committed to Lehigh.
Marvin Ridge won the fourth set 25-22.
Unkrich had the game-winning kill that set off a huge celebration.
Marvin Ridge (32-2) ended the season on a 21-game win streak. Conley (26-3) had an eight-game win streak snapped.
“The one thing I do know about these girls,” said Hammers, who was also coach of the Mavericks’ 2018 title team, “is that they are fighters, and they really do like each other, which is nice. There’s no drama, and when you’re playing with friends, it’s easy to fight (the opponent) with friends.”
Green Level wins 8A title in 5-set thriller
Led by a stat sheet-stuffing effort from MVP Scarlett Taylor, Green Level rallied from two sets down to post a thrilling 3-2 victory over West Forsyth in the 8A volleyball final at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh on Saturday.
Trailing by two sets, Green Level rallied multiple times in the third set, battling through 11 tie scores and overcoming eight lead changes to extend the match with a 25-22 set victory. The Gators then dominated the fourth set, 25-9, to force a deciding fifth set, which they also carried, 15-10.
Taylor finished with 11 kills, 35 assists and 14 digs to pace Green Level. Lindley Miller added 14 kills. Aurora Rosa led West Forsyth with 14 kills and 18 digs.
Lake Norman Charter wins 4A title
Lake Norman Charter (30-3) won its 25th straight game in Winston-Salem to win the 4A state championship, 3-2, over Uwharrie Charter from Asheboro.
Lake Norman Charter lost a fourth set after having a 2-1 lead and was down 5-0 in the fifth and deciding set.
But Lake Norman Charter went on a 10-1 run and dominated the final set, ultimately winning the school’s first state title.
Pine Lake Prep falls in 3A final
Pine Lake Prep was trying for its first NCHSAA volleyball title, but lost, 3-0, to first-time winner Ayden-Grifton Saturday in Raleigh.
Ayden-Grifton won 25-21, 25-15 and 25-17.
Pine Lake Prep was among three teams in its conference to make the championship round. Lake Norman Charter won the 4A title and Community School of Davidson won in 2A.
Community School of Davidson does it again in 2A
Community School of Davidson (28-5) swept Perquimans (28-3) in the 2A final, winning 25-16, 25-19 and 25-22. Rory Boyle was named championship MVP.
It was the first state title for the Spartans since winning back-to-back state titles in 2016 and 2017.
Perquimans is now 0-5 in state finals appearances.
NCHSAA volleyball finals results
CLASS 8A
Saturday’s state finals
(at Reynolds Coliseum, Raleigh)
Green Level 3, West Forsyth 2
CLASS 7A
Marvin Ridge 3, D.H. Conley 1
CLASS 6A
J.H. Rose 3, Watauga 2
CLASS 5A
Hickory 3, Seaforth 1
CLASS 4A
Lake Norman Charter 3, Uwharrie Charter 2
CLASS 3A
Ayden-Grifton 3, Pine Lake Prep 0
CLASS 2A
Community School of Davidson 3, Perquimans 0
CLASS 1A
Falls Lake Academy 3, Leadership Academy 1
This story was originally published October 31, 2025 at 4:11 PM.
