The Lady Knights were the final Smoky Mountain Conference team to be eliminated from the postseason this year, reaching the fourth round for just the second time in program history before falling in a sweep to state finalists N.C. Leadership Academy.
The conclusion of the campaign ushered in the release of the annual All-Conference team, which features players nominated and voted by coaches from across the league.
After perhaps its most unique season to date, Robbinsville qualified three of its stars for the line-up: middle hitter Chloe Adams and setter Ryn Hooper were both named All-Conference, while outside hitter Daphne Barlow received an Honorable Mention.
"Chloe battled through sickness and injury for the tail end of our season, but never backed down," said Lady Knights head coach Kadey Jones. "Chloe is our go-to scorer, and her work ethic and attitude are truly second-to-none.
"Daphne was a key playmaker all the way around," Jones continued. "Her defense was just as critical as her scoring."
Adams and Barlow will enter the 2026 season as juniors, leading Jones to add, "We're thrilled to have both Daphne and Chloe leading the charge for us in the coming years."
"Ryn was outstanding and rightfully earned All-Conference honors," Jones said of Robbinsville's lone senior and head captain, who platooned the critical role of setter. "It's been incredibly rewarding to watch her develop into the player she is today. Her hard work and leadership were the heartbeat of this team."
The Lady Knights were 15-12 overall this season, finishing third in the 1A/2A Smoky Mountain Conference. Robbinsville was the top 1A program in the division and earned a No. 5 seed in the Western postseason as a result.
Enjoying the luxury of a first-round bye, the Knights swept league foe Rosman in the second round and went on to the road to upset Bethany Community School in the third round.
Two days later, the magical run came to a stunning conclusion in Kernersville, but Jones remained focused on the positives.
"Heading into the year with an incredibly-young team – mostly sophomores and just one senior – there were plenty of unknowns," said Jones. "But they didn't just meet expectations: they absolutely blew them out of the water. This season was a tough one – with many obstacles along the way – but these athletes pushed through every tough moment and capped it off with an amazing run in the state playoffs. They powered their way to the fourth round, becoming only the second team in school history ever to do so.
"Considering that our entire starting lineup consisted of sophomores and one senior, that's a huge accomplishment and a sign of a truly-bright future for this program.
“The talent on this young team is undeniable, and we can't wait to see what they achieve in the coming years."