Knights tested by Jackets
Hayesville – The Lady Knights are still the team to beat in the Smoky Mountain Conference.
Though the Hayesville Lady Jackets gave Robbinsville a tough road match Sept. 8, the Knights prevailed in a compact 28-26, 25-23, 28-26 sweep.
Delaney Brooms (18 kills) and Kensley Phillips (14) proved to be just too much to handle for the Jackets’ front-line defense. Robbinsville (7-4, 4-0) had to put in extra work through the closing moments of set three, as the Knights secured the victory twice – before a pair of spirited appeals swayed the officials to overturn some crucial points and award them to Hayesville (6-5, 1-3).
Loaded competition
The Lady Knights was greeted rudely in its only home match of the week Sept. 7, as the 3A Franklin Lady Panthers rolled out of Graham County with a 25-23, 25-18, 25-21 win.
No discernible advantage emerged on either side of the net throughout set one and across much of set two, as both programs seemed evenly matched. But a 7-0 sprint by Franklin (10-1) wrapped up the second segment of the evening and gave the Panthers all the momentum needed to secure the victory.
The non-conference opposition did not get any easier Monday, with Robbinsville paying a visit to Swannanoa to face Asheville Christian Academy (11-0).
The Lady Lions proved to be rude hosts, as the 2021 N.C. Independent School Athletic Association 3A state finalists swept the season series with the Lady Knights in a 6-25, 15-25, 15-25 outcome.
JV, middle school
Robbinsville’s up-and-coming stars continued to get reps in throughout the hectic week.
The junior varsity Lady Knights were unable to pick up a victory, as Robbinsville (3-7) fell in straight sets to Franklin, 25-12, 25-15; Hayesville, 1-25, 15-25; and Asheville Christian, 20-25, 11-25.
Robbinsville (2-3) fell in its only middle-school action to the Lady Jackets, in a hard-fought 20-25, 25-18, 9-15 loss.