LadyKnights

Junior Claire Barlow (3) rises above Swain County’s Kinsley Hyatt during Sept. 21’s road match in Bryson City. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Junior Claire Barlow (3) rises above Swain County’s Kinsley Hyatt during Sept. 21’s road match in Bryson City. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Rough Knights at the office

Robbinsville – The reintroduction to conference play did not go according to plan for the Robbinsville Lady Knights. An 8-match win streak was snapped in a 4-set loss at Swain County on Sept.
Lady Knights senior Aubrie Wachacha has finely-tuned her service game throughout her career and is peaking at the right time: her 68 aces at press time lead the Smoky Mountain Conference. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights senior Aubrie Wachacha has finely-tuned her service game throughout her career and is peaking at the right time: her 68 aces at press time lead the Smoky Mountain Conference. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Ace in the hole

Robbinsville – There’s a reason Aubrie Wachacha is the first Lady Knight to step behind the service line in the rotation.
Members of the Lady Knights volleyball team gather to sing the Robbinsville High School alma mater – a post-match tradition, when a victory is in the books – after Tuesday’s sweep over the Blue Ridge Bobcats. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Members of the Lady Knights volleyball team gather to sing the Robbinsville High School alma mater – a post-match tradition, when a victory is in the books – after Tuesday’s sweep over the Blue Ridge Bobcats. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

All smiles

Robbinsville – Each time they step on the court, you can sense the poise.
Delaney Brooms rises toward a definitive kill Tuesday against Hayesville. The senior outside hitter was a thorn in the Jackets’ side throughout Robbinsville’s win. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Delaney Brooms rises toward a definitive kill Tuesday against Hayesville. The senior outside hitter was a thorn in the Jackets’ side throughout Robbinsville’s win. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Breaking out the Brooms

Robbinsville – Five of the Lady Knights’ victories this year have came thanks to clean sweeps. Looking up and down the roster, there are many factors you can attribute Robbinsville’s performance out of the gate: * Back-row coverage? Check.
Liz Carpenter prepares to spike the ball Tuesday, as Murphy’s Cayla Greer and Lailee Holloway line up for a block attempt. Robbinsville won the first pairing between last year’s co-Smoky Mountain Conference champions in four sets. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Liz Carpenter prepares to spike the ball Tuesday, as Murphy’s Cayla Greer and Lailee Holloway line up for a block attempt. Robbinsville won the first pairing between last year’s co-Smoky Mountain Conference champions in four sets. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Change their minds

Murphy – The Lady Knights showed up to show out.
Senior outside hitter Delaney Brooms rises for a spike Monday against Hiwassee Dam. Her kills were too much for the Lady Eagles to handle in the match – especially in the clinching set. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Senior outside hitter Delaney Brooms rises for a spike Monday against Hiwassee Dam. Her kills were too much for the Lady Eagles to handle in the match – especially in the clinching set. Photo by Danielle Crabtree/The Graham Star

Little Smoky Smackdown

The latest Robbinsville volleyball slate can be simplified as a cliche from another sport: nine up, nine down.
The 2023 Robbinsville High School cross-country team is comprised of (front row, from left): Skyler Oliver, Abby Wehr, Cassidy Kirkland, Kamree Oliver, Matilda Wehr and Oliver Wehr; (back row, from left): assistant coach  Jessica Wehr, Zeb Stewart, Bruce Helms, Colt Colvin, assistant coach Sunny Pringle and head coach Emily Wehr. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The 2023 Robbinsville High School cross-country team is comprised of (front row, from left): Skyler Oliver, Abby Wehr, Cassidy Kirkland, Kamree Oliver, Matilda Wehr and Oliver Wehr; (back row, from left): assistant coach Jessica Wehr, Zeb Stewart, Bruce Helms, Colt Colvin, assistant coach Sunny Pringle and head coach Emily Wehr. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Knights set new pace with new coaches

* Robbinsville cross country season preview Robbinsville – Numbers may be low, but the Black Knights are used to defying expectations. A new variable in the equation looks to make success this year more seamless.
The Robbinsville Lady Knights celebrate moments after clinching a 5-set comeback win Tuesday against Asheville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The Robbinsville Lady Knights celebrate moments after clinching a 5-set comeback win Tuesday against Asheville. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

‘Quit’ is not in their vocabulary

Novie Dutcher prepares to serve during Tuesday’s JV match against the Lady Cougars. Robbinsville – Somebody forgot to tell the Lady Knights that 2-0 deficits do not often play in their favor.
The 2023 Robbinsville Lady Knights volleyball team is comprised of (from left): assistant coach Kensley Phillips, Ryn Hooper, Liz Carpenter, Claire Barlow, Delaney Brooms, Aubrie Wachacha, Tia Hall, Anna Williams, Olivia Lewis, Suri Watty and head coach Kadey Phillips. Not pictured is assistant coach Dede Brooms. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

The 2023 Robbinsville Lady Knights volleyball team is comprised of (from left): assistant coach Kensley Phillips, Ryn Hooper, Liz Carpenter, Claire Barlow, Delaney Brooms, Aubrie Wachacha, Tia Hall, Anna Williams, Olivia Lewis, Suri Watty and head coach Kadey Phillips. Not pictured is assistant coach Dede Brooms. Photo by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights embark on conference-title defense

* Robbinsville volleyball season preview Robbinsville – For just the second time in program history, the Lady Knights ended a season atop the Smoky Mountain Conference standings.
Abigail Knight has made her choice: UNC-Charlotte will be the next to receive the services of the Lady Knights alum. Although her decision might seem practical to some, it was one Knight wrestled with. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Abigail Knight has made her choice: UNC-Charlotte will be the next to receive the services of the Lady Knights alum. Although her decision might seem practical to some, it was one Knight wrestled with. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Nothin’ finer than being a 49er

Robbinsville – With one single decision, the commute to watch Abigail Knight play a home college softball game plummeted from 987 miles to 213; a 15-hour drive, now just 3 ½.