Kernersville – For just the second time in program history, the Lady Knights volleyball team advanced to the fourth round of the state playoffs.
Robbinsville (No. 5 seed, 15-12) upended the No. 4-seeded Bethany Community School Lady Wolves (No. 4, 16-11) 25-17, 25-15, 24-26, 25-19 in the third round Oct. 23, to reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 2019.
The Lady Knights were unable to carry their success back on the road to suburban Greensboro once more Saturday, dropping an 11-25, 11-25, 21-25 trek to the No. 1-seeded North Carolina Leadership Academy Lady Falcons (22-7).
"I will forever cherish every moment I had on the court," said Robbinsville's setter Ryn Hooper, who was the Lady Knights' senior this season. "Overall, I'm very proud of the team for coming together so well after (the) many obstacles we faced throughout the course of the season.
"The year we had was definitely one for the books. We had ups and downs, but at the end of the day I'm proud of where we got to. I can't wait to watch these girls succeed in the years to come."
Hooper also reflected on her career with the Lady Knights following Saturday's exit from the playoffs.
"Something I will take away from my time with Robbinsville volleyball is the friends that I have made," Hooper said. "I was with some longer than others, but I love every single one of those girls and I'm so proud of them. We were a team that didn't let challenges knock us down.
"I hope to see that same drive in them again next year."
Robbinsville was the final Smoky Mountain Conference team left standing in the postseason race, following Cherokee's elimination via sweep earlier Saturday in the 2A bracket against Community School of Davidson. Andrews faced the N.C. Leadership Academy in the third round Oct. 23, dropping the match 3-1.
Wolves silenced
Summerfield – Oct. 23's third-round pairing with Bethany Community School began as a back-and-forth affair, until the Lady Knights opened up a 17-12 advantage.
The hosting Lady Wolves adjusted their front-row defense during a timeout – in an effort to curb Robbinsville's attack – but the effort proved fruitless as Chloe Adams and Zaelyn Phillips closed out the set-one victory with resounding, back-to-back kills.
Bethany Community struggled with service and return errors for much of set two – something the Lady Knights gladly took advantage of while opening a 2-0 lead in the match.
Refusing to go away quietly, the Wolves dug their claws in for set three and displayed a much-improved effort on the home side of the net. Gracie Andrews proved to be a critical asset for Bethany Community during the duel, but Robbinsville continually kept the heat turned up by rallying three times to tie the set. The Knights even pulled ahead 24-23, but were unable to close out the sweep.
Riding the wave of momentum from their win minutes earlier, the Lady Wolves opened an 0-5 lead to start the fourth set. In response, the Knights went on a 9-3 tear and refused to be threatened at any point thereafter.