Hough rolls Mallard Creek in NCHSAA 4A volleyball playoffs

Hough High volleyball coach Sandi Skidmore said she was a little nervous before her team’s 3-0 win over rival Mallard Creek in the second round of the N.C. 4A volleyball playoffs Tuesday night.

Her Huskies (21-4) had beaten Mallard Creek three times in three earlier meetings this season, and Skidmore figured the Mavericks might be primed for an upset. But Hough won its seventh straight game in dominating fashion – 25-20, 25-13 and 25-14.

“We were ready for them,” Skidmore said. “We practiced hard yesterday and the girls were psyched. We knew what we had to do and we did it.”

Makaylah Elliott had nine kills, Erin Cooke had seven and Olivia Cerick added six. Erica Williams and Kristy Mundy had nine digs each. Setter Elise Williams had 20 assists.

Hough – which has surrendered just two games in its win streak – advanced to Thursday’s third round at Skyland Roberson, and Skidmore said her team is ready to make a deep playoff run.

“I feel pretty confident,” she said. “I think we’re playing pretty good. We’re finally jelling and I’ve got a rotation that is working for us. We picked up our game a little bit in the conference tournament. They wanted to win it and now they’ve won it five years in a row. They didn’t want to lose it, especially my seniors.”

▪ Two other Mecklenburg County 4A teams advanced Tuesday: Providence beat South Meck 3-1 and Charlotte Catholic beat Davie County 3-0. Charlotte Catholic will host Providence in Thursday’s third round.

Charlotte Latin 3, Charlotte Christian 2: After the teams split the first four games, Latin won the deciding fifth 16-14, led by Dalila Mendygaziyeva, who had 10 kills, 23 digs, eight blocks and two aces. Rachel Mackey (11 kills, 18 digs, two blocks) and Eloise Monnin (21 assists) also had strong games. Latin plays Covenant Day in a state quarterfinal match at Charlotte Latin Friday at 9 a.m.

Field Hockey

Providence Day 1, Cary Christian 0: Laney Diehl had the goal for the Chargers in the second round of the N.C. Independent Schools playoffs. Providence Day advances to Friday’s semifinals at Durham Academy.

Country Day 7, St. Mary’s 0: Kathryn Holland had four goals and Riley Harrison and Bennett Pittroff shared the shutout for the Bucs. Country Day will play at Durham Academy in the semifinals Friday.

Charlotte Latin 6, Cary Academy 1: Kennedy Fertitta had a pair of goals for Latin (12-3) which easily beat Durham Academy (10-12) to advance to Friday’s semifinals.

Soccer

Charlotte Country Day 4, Durham Academy 3: Country Day’s Giovanni Fanara had two goals and an assist as the Bucs allowed three second half goals but held on after leading 2-0 at halftime. Country Day’s Eli Roddey also had two goals and Bucs goalie had nine saves. Country Day (12-3-4) advances to Friday’s semifinals in Raleigh.

Girls Tennis

Cox Mill’s Sarah Jiang beat West Rowan’s Payton Holt 6-1, 6-0 to win the N.C. 3A Midwest Regionals. In doubles, Weddington’s Sarah Merrill and Jillian Paris beat Ledford’s Taylor Freeman and Sarah Richardson 6-1, 6-3.

Girls Golf

The N.C. Independent Schools girls state championship came down to a playoff between rivals Charlotte Latin and Providence Day. Providence Day won the playoff on the third extra hole to take home the team title.

Providence Day’s Roshnee Sharma shot a two-day total of 148 at the Country Club of Salisbury to easily win medalist honors and the individual state title. Charlotte Latin’s Moon Cheong and Forsyth Country Day’s Julianne Strauch tied for second at 154. Gaston Christian’s Taylor Hinson (156) was fourth.

In the team race, Providence Day won over Charlotte Latin and third place Forsyth Country Day, which finished seven shots out of the playoff.

▪ Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons won the N.C. 4A title at Pinehurt No. 6 Tuesday, winning by 26 shots over Southern Pines Pinecrest. Ardrey Kell finished sixth and Hough was eighth. Raleigh Athens Drive’s Jennifer Chang (78-72-150) won the individual title by two shots over Wilmington Laney’s Caroline Cahill and Lake Norman’s Kathryn Carson. Charlotte Catholic’s Keri Kenkel was tied for seventh.

▪ Salisbury’s Grace Yatawara, the 2014 state 1A/2A champion, won against Tuesday, beating Stuart Cramer’s Ellie Porman in a playoff. The two each shot a two-day total of 158 at the Longleaf Golf and Country Club in Southern Pines.

Newport Croatan won the team title. West Davidson was second. Among Observer-area teams, Gastonia’s Highland Tech finished eighth.

▪ Rockingham County won the 3A championship at Foxfire Resort and Country Club, by six shots over Lee County. Among Observer-area teams, Marvin Ridge was seventh and Weddington ninth. Chapel Hill’s Gina Kim shot a two-day total of 139 to win by six shots. Cox Mill’s Jaime Cassell finished 10th.

This story was originally published October 27, 2015 at 10:55 PM with the headline "Hough rolls Mallard Creek in NCHSAA 4A volleyball playoffs."