Asheville

It was smiles all around for Robbinsville volleyball Saturday, as the Lady Knights swept the field clean in a tournament at Chase High School. Counting Tuesday’s win over Murphy, Robbinsville has won 14 straight sets. From left are Suri Watty, Daphne Barlow, Khaygen Buchanan, Chloe Adams, Olivia Lewis (in back), Claire Barlow, Liz Carpenter and Ryn Hooper. Photo courtesy of RHS Volleyball

It was smiles all around for Robbinsville volleyball Saturday, as the Lady Knights swept the field clean in a tournament at Chase High School. Counting Tuesday’s win over Murphy, Robbinsville has won 14 straight sets. From left are Suri Watty, Daphne Barlow, Khaygen Buchanan, Chloe Adams, Olivia Lewis (in back), Claire Barlow, Liz Carpenter and Ryn Hooper. Photo courtesy of RHS Volleyball

Showing up and showing out

A sleeping giant has been inadvertently awoken. Down 2-0 in an Aug. 22 road match at Asheville, the Lady Knights made some adjustments between sets two and three – simply hoping to keep the contest alive.
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.
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.
Wreckage of Life Force 6 blocks Middle Burningtown Road in Macon County on Friday on the morning following a crash. All four aboard survived. Photo by Mia Overton/The Franklin Press

Wreckage of Life Force 6 blocks Middle Burningtown Road in Macon County on Friday on the morning following a crash. All four aboard survived. Photo by Mia Overton/The Franklin Press

Andrews-based air ambulance crashes in Macon County

Franklin – Four people survived when an air ambulance en route from Murphy to Asheville crashed in Macon County about 7 p.m. Thursday. Investigators were on scene Friday following the crash of Life Force 6, a medical helicopter based at Western Carolina Regional Airport near Andrews.
Aubrie Wachacha (left) breaks to hammer the set from Desta Trammell during Tuesday’s home match against Highlands. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Aubrie Wachacha (left) breaks to hammer the set from Desta Trammell during Tuesday’s home match against Highlands. Photo courtesy of Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Fine tuning

Robbinsville – Make no mistake about it: the Lady Knights are getting a good mixture of opposition from the early portion of their schedule. Wedged between sweeps of Little Smoky Mountain Conference programs Nantahala (0-2) on Aug.
Junior running back Cuttler Adams (4) emerges from a mixture of Knights and Cougars in Friday’s season opener at Asheville. Adams finished the game with 153 rushing yards. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Junior running back Cuttler Adams (4) emerges from a mixture of Knights and Cougars in Friday’s season opener at Asheville. Adams finished the game with 153 rushing yards. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Late gasp falls short

Asheville – Trailing by 6 with 3:50 left in the ballgame, Robbinsville started a downfield campaign to victory from its own 15-yard line.
Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights begin pre-practice warm-ups Tuesday. Robbinsville kicks off the season Friday at Asheville High School. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Members of the Robbinsville Black Knights begin pre-practice warm-ups Tuesday. Robbinsville kicks off the season Friday at Asheville High School. Photos by Kevin Hensley/sports@grahamstar.com

Football is back!

Robbinsville — It’s finally here. The Robbinsville Black Knights make their return to the gridiron Friday, for their first game since the 1A Western Regional Final at Mitchell on Dec. 3.
With Kensley Phillips (4) and Delaney Brooms (1) looking on, Robbinsville’s senior libero Halee Anderson digs the ball out on back-row defense during the Aug. 23 home match against Smoky Mountain. Before sports were paused district-wide until Sept. 13, the Lady Knights compiled a 6-0 record in non-conference play. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

With Kensley Phillips (4) and Delaney Brooms (1) looking on, Robbinsville’s senior libero Halee Anderson digs the ball out on back-row defense during the Aug. 23 home match against Smoky Mountain. Before sports were paused district-wide until Sept. 13, the Lady Knights compiled a 6-0 record in non-conference play. Photo by Art Miller/amiller@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville enters pause with unblemished record

Asheville – Though sports across Graham County have been paused until Sept. 13, there are plenty of positives to find in Robbinsville’s volleyball program.
Sophomore tackle Koleson Dooley (55) runs interference for classmate Cuttler Adams (4) during Friday’s season opener against the Asheville Cougars. Along with another sophomore – Kage Williams – Adams had three touchdowns in Robbinsvile’s 45-23 victory. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Sophomore tackle Koleson Dooley (55) runs interference for classmate Cuttler Adams (4) during Friday’s season opener against the Asheville Cougars. Along with another sophomore – Kage Williams – Adams had three touchdowns in Robbinsvile’s 45-23 victory. Photo by Miranda Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Critics silenced

Robbinsville – Before Asheville had a chance to get settled, Robbinsville led 21-0. Sophomore backs Cuttler Adams and Kage Williams each had a hat trick – and the Black Knights’ defense took care of the rest – as Robbinsville handily defeated the 4A Cougars 45-23 in Friday’s season debut.