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North Lincoln High won the first two sets and then rallied to take a fifth and deciding set on Thursday night at home, nipping Maiden 3-2 in South Fork 2A girls’ volleyball and stopping the Blue Devils’ league win streak at 32 matches.
The Knights won 25-15 and 25-19 before Maiden — which had won its final 2014 Southern District 7 Athletic 2A regular-season match, SD-7 2A titles with 14-0 records in 2015 and 2016 and three South Fork 2A matches this season — won 25-19, 26-24 to force a fifth set that North Lincoln won 16-14.
Kylie Morgan had 25 kills, Abbey Smith added 18 kills and Faith Herman finished with 58 assist for Maiden, which dropped into a second place tie with North Lincoln, both one game back of East Lincoln.
North Lincoln faces Newton-Conover on the road Tuesday at 6 p.m., and the Blue Devils are at home at 6 p.m. that night to battle East Lincoln.
East Lincoln 3, Bandys 0
At East Lincoln, the Mustangs beat the Trojans 25-15, 25-16, 21-18 and moved into sole possession of first place in the South Fork 2A.
East Lincoln is 4-0 in the conference while the loss left Bandys at 2-2.
Emma Dutka had five kills and 12 assists for Bandys, and Sarah Kanipe had 10 digs and 11 assists.
Caitlin Styles added six kills, Caroline Mirman had 13 digs and Shi Pope had 10 digs for the Trojans.
The Mustangs have another key league match on Tuesday, playing at Maiden at 6 p.m., and the Trojans play Friday at home against Lincoln Charter.
Watauga 3, St. Stephens 2
The Pioneers won at St. Stephens – 23-25, 25-22, 25-19, 18-25, 16-14 — to remain unbeaten in the Northwestern 3A-4A and take over sole possession of first place.
At 4-0 in the conference, Watauga is a game up on Alexander Central, St. Stephens and Hickory (all are 3-1).
Avery Jackson sparked the Indians with 44 assists and Sydney Otterberg (22), Madi Bolch (12) and Rebekha Kirland (11) combined for 45 kills.
Sam Wilson and Lexie Hall each had four aces for St. Stephens, 6-4 overall.
Watauga will have a tri-match at home on Saturday at 10 a.m. with Hough and Fred T. Foard visiting Boone.
St. Stephens has a Saturday tri-match at home with East Burke and South Iredell, starting at 10 a.m.
Hickory 3, West Caldwell 0
Playing in Craft Gym, the Red Tornadoes won a Northwestern 3A-4A match 25-9, 25-8, 25-8 to reach 3-1 in conference play.
Allison Gambill (eight) and Julie Huggins (six) led Hickory in kills, Bren White had four aces, McKayla Melbon made five digs, and Morgan Anderson and Olivia Pisel led in assists with 13 and nine, respectively.
Both teams have league matches on Tuesday at 6 p.m., Hickory at South Caldwell and West Caldwell at home against Freedom.
JUNIOR VARSITY FOOTBALL
Alexander Central 50, North Lincoln 6
The visiting Cougars limited the Knights to 49 rushing yards and outgained them 376-148 en route to a junior football victory.
Alexander Central (3-0) scored 50 unanswered points, getting 81 rushing yards and 13 carries for four touchdowns from Dayente Calhoun. He scored on runs of 14, 3, 2 and 2 yards.
Quarterback Easton Rhoney threw for two scores and ran for another for the Cougars, who led 36-0 by halftime. He had three carries for 55 yards.
Daniel Morgan led a 333-yard rushing attack with 92 yards while JaiKwaun Tilley led the Cougars’ defense with eight tackles.
Landon Beard paced North Lincoln with 43 yards rushing on five carries, and quarterback Craig Rathbone went 6-for-11 for 93 yards and a TD pass of 54 yards to Brock Rankin as the game clock expired.
Jayden Smith and Jacob cline each had 11 tackles for North Lincoln.
Alexander Central is idle next week before facing West Caldwell in Lenoir to open its Northwestern 3A-4A schedule on Sept. 21.
The Knights, whose only other game this season (Aug. 17 at Bunker Hill) was suspended, are 0-1. They are at home Thursday night to play Bessemer City, and their South Fork 2A opener is Sept. 21 at home against West Lincoln.
Newton-Conover 49, East Burke 0
The Red Devils improved to 2-0 by winning at Gurley Stadium (no other game details available).
Newton-Conover plays Hibriten at home Thursday night at 7 p.m., and East Burke travels to West Lincoln that night for a 7 p.m. game.
West Lincoln 16, Fred T. Foard 0
The Rebels won their home opener, shutting out the Tigers, to improve to 2-0 (no other game details available).
West Lincoln (2-0) has a home game Thursday at 7 p.m. against East Burke, and Foard (0-3) faces St. Stephens at 6:30 p.m. that night at Foard.
Draughn 50, Cherryville 7
The Wildcats pick up their first win of the year, beating the Ironmen at Draughn (no other game details were available).
Draughn (1-2) came in winless, falling to Freedom and Brevard.
The Wildcats play Thursday at Avery County at 6:30 p.m.
Freedom 28, Patton 8
At Freedom, the Patriots improved to 3-0 with a win over the Panthers (1-2). No other game details were available.
Freedom has outscored opponents 126-14 in its unbeaten start and does not play again until Sept. 21 when it opens its Northwestern 3A-4A schedule at St. Stephens.
Patton is idle until facing Fred T. Foard on the road on Sept. 21 in a Northwestern Foothills 2A opener.
BOYS SOCCER
Newton-Conover 2, St. Stephens 1
The Red Devils got first-half goals from Fernando Tapia and Orlando Gilford about six minutes apart to win a non-conference match at St. Stephens.
Newton-Conover (7-0-1) starts South Fork 2A play on Monday at 6:30 p.m., facing Lincolnton in Newton.
St. Stephens opens Northwestern 3A-4A play on Monday at 6 p.m. at the Catawba River Soccer Complex, facing Freedom.
West Caldwell 6, East Burke 0
The Warriors scored five second-half goals to win a non-conference match at West Caldwell.
West Caldwell has a Northwestern 3A-4A match at home against Alexander Central on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
East Burke is at home Tuesday at 6 p.m., playing Hibriten in a Northwestern Foothills 2A match.