When Tigers reach a state title match, they’re 8-0
ALL-TIME PLAYOFF WINS
Fred T. Foard High ranked in the Top 10 in the state in postseason wins through last season, an NCHSAA post says.
The totals do not include matches won in this season’s state playoffs:
School Playoff bids Wins
1. Greenville Conley 40 111-36
2. Hendersonville 37 100-26
3. W. Henderson 38 98-34
4. Providence 33 89-28
5. Wilmington Hoggard 39 84-39
6. Cardinal Gibbons 17 82-6
T7. Louisburg 40 79-38
Chapel Hill 35 79-32
9. FRED T. FOARD 35 78-30
10. Swansboro 36 73-30
SOURCE: NCHSAA
By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
The Western Foothills 3A’s best high school volleyball team is going to play for a state championship.
The conference is assured of that since Tuesday’s West 3A title match is 10th-seeded Fred T. Foard (21-7) at top-seeded North Iredell (30-0) at 6 p.m. in Olin.
It will be the fourth meeting of the season for the Raiders and the Tigers, who finished 1-2 in the conference race.
North Iredell won 3-0 at home over the Tigers on Sept. 8, beat them 3-1 at Foard on Oct. 5 and won the league tournament title match at North Iredell 3-0 on Oct. 19.
The set Foard won on Oct 5 over the Raiders was the only one North Iredell lost in conference play. The Raiders won the other 13 conference matches 3-0.
The state championships are Saturday at N.C. State with match times to be announced.
LOMBARDI
In the East, the 3A title match on Tuesday is No. 2 Cedar Ridge (25-1) at No. 1 Greenville Rose (27-1). Cedar Ridge is the defending state 3A champion, beating North Iredell 3-1.
Foard has never reached a state final and not won the championship (8-0), last winning a state crown in 2020-21 in 2A with a 3-0 win over McMichael. The year before, the Tigers beat Ayden-Grifton 3-0 for a 2A state title.
Those wins have put head coach Meredith Lombardi, a former Tigers player, in position to battle for her third state championship as a head coach. The late Linda Richards guided the Tigers to four state crowns and they won two under head coach Lettie Wilkes.
Foard entered this postseason in the state’s top 10 for all-time postseason volleyball wins (see graphic) with 78.
Fred T. Foard 3, Kings Mountain 1
On Saturday in Kings Mountain, the Tigers won 25-18, 13-25, 27-25, 27-25 to advance to the West 3A title match.
Maya Beatty, who had the match-winning ace on the last play of the match, led Foard with 12 kills and 25 digs. Laney Craig provided 11 kills and 13 digs and Averie Dale had 18 kills, 25 digs, 28 assists and five blocks.
Taylor Ramseur and Zoie Cloninger each posted five blocks for the Tigers while Natigan Crutchfield made 27 digs and Skyler Cody delivered three aces.
Contributing to this roundup: Robert Harrison, Fred T. Foard coaching staff.
TUESDAY’S STATE SEMIFINALS
East 1A: No. 13 Roxboro Community (20-6) at No. 3 Perquimans (25-1)
West 1A: No. 3 Bishop McGuinness (24-5) at No. 1 Union Academy (26-2)
East 2A: No. 2 Camden County (24-2) at No. 1 Midway (26-0)
West 2A: No. 3 Brevard (23-5) at No. 1 McMichael (35-3)
East 3A: No. 2 Cedar Ridge (22-3) at No. 1 Greenville Rose (25-1)
West 3A: No. 10 FRED T. FOARD (21-7) at No. 1 N. IREDELL (30-0)
East 4A: No. 8 Cardinal Gibbons (19-6) at No. 2 Raleigh Millbrook (27-1)
West 4A: No. 4 Hough (25-3) at No. 3 Sun Valley (28-2)
WEST 1A
FOURTH ROUND RESULTS
No. 1 Union Academy 3, No. 4 Highland Tech 0
No. 3 Bishop McGuinness 3, No. 2 Mountain Island Charter 2
THIRD ROUND RESULTS
No. 1 Union Academy 3, No. 9 DRAUGHN 0
No. 4 Highland Tech 3, No. 5 Uwharrie Charter 2
No. 3 Bishop McGuinness 3, No. 6 Murphy 0
No. 2 Mountain Island Charter 3, No. 26 S. Stokes 1
SECOND ROUND RESULTS
No. 1 Union Academy 3, No. 16 Christ The King 0
No. 9 DRAUGHN 3, No. 8 Piedmont Community 0
No. 5 Uwharrie Charter 3, No. 21 Hayesville 0
No. 4 Highland Tech 3, No. 13 Robbinsville 2
No. 3 Bishop McGuiness 3, No. 14 Gary Stone Day 0
No. 6 Murphy 3, No. 11 Alleghany 1
No. 26 S. Stokes 3, No. 10 Highlands 0
No. 2 Mountain Island Charter 3, No. 15 Cherokee 1
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
See statewide pairings, link below
WEST 2A
FOURTH ROUND RESULTS
No. 1 McMichael 3, No. 4 E. Surry 2
No. 3 Brevard 3, No. 7 Southwestern Randolph 2
THIRD ROUND RESULTS
No. 1 McMichael 3, No. 8 Mount Pleasant 0
No. 4 E. Surry 3, No. 12 Polk County 1
No. 3 Brevard 3, No. 6 W. Stanly 0
No. 7 Southwestern Randolph 3, No. 23 N. Stanly 0
SECOND ROUND RESULTS
No. 1 McMichael 3, No. 16 PATTON 0
No. 8 Mount Pleasant 3, No. 9 W. Davidson 1
No. 12 Polk County 3, No. 5 Pine Lake Prep 0
No. 4 E. Surry 3, No. 13 Randleman 0
No. 3 Brevard 3, No. 19 Community School of Davidson 0
No. 6 W. Stanly 3, No. 11 Black Mountain Owen 0
No. 23 N. Stanly 3, No. 7 MAIDEN 1
No. 7 SW Randolph 3, No. 15 E. Davidson 0
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
See statewide pairings, link below
WEST 3A
FOURTH ROUND RESULTS
No. 1 N. IREDELL 3, No. 4 N. Henderson 0
No. 10 FRED T. FOARD 3, No. 3 Kings Mountain 1
THIRD ROUND RESULTS
No. 1 N. IREDELL 3, No. 25 Lake Norman Charter 0
No. 4 N. Henderson 3, No. 12 Forestview 0
No. 3 Kings Mountain 3, No. 11 W. Henderson 1
No. 10 FRED T. FOARD 3, No. 2 W. Rowan 2
SECOND ROUND RESULTS
No. 1 N. IREDELL 3, No. 16 Franklin 0
No. 25 Lake Norman Charter 3, No. 24 Canton Pisgah 1
No. 12 Forestview 3, No. 5 ASHE COUNTY 1
No. 4 N. Henderson 3, No. 13 E. Rowan 0
No. 3 Kings Mountain 3, No. 14 E. LINCOLN 0
No. 11 W. Henderson 3, No. 27 N. LINCOLN 0
No. 10 FRED T. FOARD 3, No. 7 Oak Grove 0
No. 2 W. Rowan 3, No. 18 HICKORY 0
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
See statewide pairings, link below
WEST 4A
FOURTH ROUND RESULTS
No. 4 Hough 3, No. 8 S. Iredell 1
No. 3 Sun Valley3, No. 2 WATAUGA 1
THIRD ROUND RESULTS
No. 8 S. Iredell 3, No. 1 W-S Reagan 2
No. 4 Hough 3, No. 5 Asheville Roberson 1
No. 3 Sun Valley 3, No. 6 Ardrey Kell 2
No. 2 WATAUGA 3, No. 10 Marvin Ridge 2
SECOND ROUND RESULTS
No. 1 W-S Reagan 3, No. 16 NW Guilford 0
No. 8 S. Iredell 3, No. 9 Providence 0
No. 5 Asheville Roberson 3, No. 12 E. Forsyth 1
No. 4 Hough 3, No. 13 Lake Norman 1
No. 3 Sun Valley 3, No. 14 Cox Mill 1
No. 6 Ardrey Kell 3, No. 11 Western Guilford 0
No. 10 Marvin Ridge 3, No. 7 Greensboro Grimsley 1
No. 2 WATAUGA 3, No. 18 Mallard Creek 0
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
See statewide pairings, link below
COMPLETE STATEWIDE PAIRINGS: https://www.nchsaa.org/sports/volleyball
