Knights looking to improve playoff chances
It’s crunch time for the Robbinsville Lady Knights.
Still hopeful of a wild card playoff seed after sweeping Swain, Cherokee and Andrews over the course of the last week – finishing a four-matches-in-six-days stretch in the process – the Knights (10-3, 8-3) have just one more showdown on the docket: a road match at Murphy tonight.
The Lady Bulldogs (11-0, 9-0) are the only team this season to defeat Robbinsville in straight sets, but the Knights are not the same team they were Dec. 9. More importantly, Murphy’s win did not come easy (25-19, 26-24, 27-25), and the Lady Knights are primed for redemption.
“I am confident that we will be able to finish this season strong,” Robbinsville head coach Kadey Phillips said. “Murphy has a great team this year, but I think we will be able to compete with them the second time around.”
Robbinsville will finish third in the Smoky Mountain Conference this season, regardless of tonight’s outcome. Playoff brackets will be released Saturday, and the Knights are banking on the new wild card seed to reach the postseason.
The seeds are awarded to teams that did not finish first or second in their respective divisions.
“Any wins that we can get at this point of the season are much needed, to help our chances of receiving the wild card spot,” Phillips said.
Following a Dec. 29 road match at Rosman, the Lady Knights hosted Swain County (4-6, 4-5) and took care of the Lady Devils 10-25, 9-25, 20-25. Robbinsville caught its breath before welcoming Cherokee (0-12, 0-11) on Senior Night and defeating the Lady Braves 13-25, 14-25, 15-25.
Monday took the Lady Knights to Andrews (3-9, 2-9), a match Robbinsville won 25-14, 25-20, 25-15.
JV, middle school
For the first time since Dec. 14, the junior varsity Lady Knights (4-3) took the court to face Cherokee on Friday, with Robbinsville prevailing in straight sets 14-25, 18-25.
Meanwhile, the middle school Lady Knights (5-8) kept busy over the Christmas break. Robbinsville traveled to Martins Creek on Dec. 17 and toppled the Lady Hornets in a doubleheader 25-12, 25-19; 23-25, 25-21, 15-6.
The Knights fell in their Dec. 30 home tilt with Swain 25-16, 17-25, 15-5, before traveling to Hiwassee Dam/Ranger on Dec. 31 and falling 17-25, 15-25. The hectic middle school slate continued Friday, this time with Robbinsville downing Cherokee 6-25, 19-25.
Monday’s match at Andrews ended with a 25-14, 25-17 Lady Knights victory.