LadyBulldogs

Robbinsville senior Gabby Hooper (right) looks to outpace Murphy’s Kaiya Pickens during Saturday’s third-round playoff matchup. Photo by Montana Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Robbinsville senior Gabby Hooper (right) looks to outpace Murphy’s Kaiya Pickens during Saturday’s third-round playoff matchup. Photo by Montana Buchanan/Robbinsville High School Yearbook

Lady Knights fall in sectional final

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, March 4, 2021
Robbinsville – The Lady Knights held all the cards: home-court advantage, two wins over their opponent earlier this year and a wave of momentum coming off a huge road victory Feb. 25. But it was not meant to be. Robbinsville (No. 8 seed, 15-2) fell 49-37 to the visiting Murphy Lady Bulldogs (No.
Robbinsville's Kensley Phillips (24) and Gabby Hooper (3) kick off the victory celebration as the official signals the end of the Lady Knights' 72-60 comeback win at East Surry on Thursday night. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville's Kensley Phillips (24) and Gabby Hooper (3) kick off the victory celebration as the official signals the end of the Lady Knights' 72-60 comeback win at East Surry on Thursday night. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights hit the road for playoffs

Kevin Hensley
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Robbinsville – The Lady Knights held all the cards: home-court advantage, two wins over their opponent earlier this year and a wave of momentum, coming off a huge road victory Feb. 25. But it was not meant to be. Robbinsville (No. 8 seed, 15-2) fell 49-37 to the visiting Murphy Lady Bulldogs (No.
Robbinsville Lady Knight players and staff gather to celebrate the program's first Smoky Mountain Conference title since 2010, clinched tonight with a 67-50 win at Murphy. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Robbinsville Lady Knight players and staff gather to celebrate the program's first Smoky Mountain Conference title since 2010, clinched tonight with a 67-50 win at Murphy. Photo by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Mission accomplished

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Murphy – For the first time since 2012, the Robbinsville Lady Knights can add "Smoky Mountain Conference Champions" to their resume.
In the moments following Robbinsville’s 67-53 win over Murphy on Tuesday night, it was tough for the Lady Knights to know exactly which camera to look at, as multiple sources attempted to capture the first post-game memory of the victory. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

In the moments following Robbinsville’s 67-53 win over Murphy on Tuesday night, it was tough for the Lady Knights to know exactly which camera to look at, as multiple sources attempted to capture the first post-game memory of the victory. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

The streak stops here

Kevin Hensley
Friday, January 29, 2021
Robbinsville – It had been two years, 26 consecutive division wins and 42 regular-season wins in a row since the Murphy Lady Bulldogs had fallen. But long after the Bulldogs suffered a 34-29 road loss at the hands of Hayesville on Jan. 10, 2019, Robbinsville eyed redemption.
Kylie Farley, Ivy Odom, Delaney Brooms, Tai Owle, Kelsey Waldroup and Abbi Sawyer (from left) celebrate a Sawyer ace during Jan. 7's season finale at Murphy. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Kylie Farley, Ivy Odom, Delaney Brooms, Tai Owle, Kelsey Waldroup and Abbi Sawyer (from left) celebrate a Sawyer ace during Jan. 7's season finale at Murphy. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

End of the road

Kevin Hensley
Monday, January 18, 2021
Murphy – Instead of preparing for a playoff game, Robbinsville is saying goodbye to its 2020-21 volleyball season. For the first time since 2011, the Lady Knights (10-4, 8-4) will not be participating in the postseason, as the N.C.
Yeika Jimenez launches for a hit past a pair of Rosman defenders during Tuesday’s road conference match. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Yeika Jimenez launches for a hit past a pair of Rosman defenders during Tuesday’s road conference match. Photos by Kevin Hensley/editor@grahamstar.com

Lady Knights chasing wild card playoff seed

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 31, 2020
Rosman – A chance for redemption awaited Robbinsville. But so much more was on the line.

Eyes on the prize

Kevin Hensley
Monday, December 28, 2020
Nantahala – In pre-COVID times, a 2-loss volleyball team from the Smoky Mountain Conference was all but guaranteed a spot in the 1A state playoffs. However, as the virus has altered the way high school athletics are being conducted this year, that guarantee has been kissed goodbye.

Clash of the Champions

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, December 17, 2020
Robbinsville – Fresh off a four-set, comeback victory at Swain County on Dec. 4, the Lady Knights seemed to have all the momentum needed to prevail.

Early success not enough

Kevin Hensley
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Robbinsville – The second meeting of the season between Murphy and Robbinsville was surrounded by a lot of hype. For the first quarter, it appeared the Lady Knights had things well in-hand. For the remaining three quarters, the Lady Bulldogs proved different.

One second away

Kevin Hensley
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Murphy – It took a buzzer-beating 3 and a war of free throws to knock off the Lady Knights on Tuesday night.