Robbinsville volleyball shifts focus to postseason
Hayesville – Even though Tuesday's semifinal pairing against the regular-season champions ended in defeat, the Lady Knights turned a lot of heads.
Entering the Smoky Mountain Conference tournament as the No. 4 seed, Robbinsville (12-11) mowed over Andrews (No. 5, 10-12) in a 23-25, 23-25, 21-25 sweep Monday to set up an appointment with Cherokee (No. 1, 24-8).
The Lady Braves ran the table in the division this season, only dropping two sets in league play along the way.
Robbinsville kept Cherokee on its toes for the duration of Tuesday's nightcap at Hayesville High School. The Knights surged to an 11-7 lead in set one, thanks in large part to spot-on sets by Ryn Hooper that allowed Chloe Adams to send the ball screaming past any chance the Braves had of a defense. However, Cherokee rallied in the opening stanza to pull ahead 12-13 and refused to relinquish the lead thereafter.
Carrying over the momentum, the defending champions leapt to a 7-0 lead that was only halted on a service error. The Lady Knights refused to go away quietly, piecing together a pair of comeback bids during the segment to cut the deficit to four each time. Cherokee ultimately claimed the set, 21-25.
Robbinsville continued to re-position its defense in set three, hoping to thwart the lasers being delivered on kill attempts by Cherokee junior Joscelyn Stamper. A problem for every opponent the Braves have faced this year, the Lady Knights simply ran out of time before solving the puzzle in a 17-25 loss that clinched the sweep.
Cherokee faced Hayesville in the varsity finals after Wednesday's press deadline.
The JV Lady Knights (No. 3, 16-5) were upset in the quarterfinals of the tournament by Andrews (No. 6) on Saturday. The Wildcats continued their Cinderella run to the finals, where they battled Hayesville in a match that also took place after press time.
Tigers tamed
Rosman – The regular season wrapped up Oct. 9, with Robbinsville traveling to face Rosman (5-15).
Each team the Knights transported to Transylvania County came home with a victory, as the varsity squad swept the Tigers 25-21, 25-23, 25-20; and the JVs scored a 23-25, 25-22, 15-10 triumph.
Robbinsville Middle School (10-4) also finished the year by defeating Rosman, but individual set scores were not available at press time.
Seeding for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association's 1A playoff bracket will be held today.
Follow The Graham Star on Facebook – or @KevinHensleyCNI on X – for updates on the Lady Knights' first-round opponent.