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Asheboro soccer Ortiz v SWR

Area Prep Notes: Asheboro hits pause in volleyball season; Blue Comets excel in soccer

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Cristian Ortiz, right, of Asheboro makes a move on Southwestern Randolph’s Richard Dominguez during a boys’ soccer game earlier this season. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

ASHEBORO – The Asheboro volleyball team hoped to be back in action this week after a health-related pause.

The Blue Comets called off two matches last week and another for Monday night. Athletics director Wes Berrier said five team members were hit by COVID-19, so team activities were shut down.

A Mid-Piedmont Conference match with Oak Grove was reset for Thursday at South Asheboro Middle School, which is the team’s temporary home court.

A non-conference match with Providence Grove was moved to Oct. 10, when the Blue Comets should be using North Asheboro Middle School again. Asheboro’s non-league match with Wheatmore won’t be rescheduled.

Blue Comets roll along

Asheboro’s boys’ soccer team has defeated two 2021 state champions in the first month of this season.

The latest conquest came with last week’s 2-1 victory against visiting Christ the King. Cristian Ortiz and Brandon Santos had goals for the Blue Comets, with Edwin Perez and Carlos Castaneda providing assists.

Christ the King, which is in Huntersville, was last season’s Class 1-A state champion. Last month, the Blue Comets topped reigning Class 3-A state champion Western Alamance.

Later in the week, Asheboro improved to 9-0 with a 3-0 victory against Uwharrie Charter Academy behind goals from Diego Bustamonte, Cristian Cruz and Ozmar Martinez. Santos and Ortiz had assists.

Hazelwood wins race

At Dobson, cross country runner Zach Hazelwood of Wheatmore captured first place in last week’s Fisher River Park.

Hazelwood’s time of 18 minutes, 5.71 seconds for the 3.1-mile race gave him nearly a 14-second margin on runner-up Cole Johnson of High Point Central. There were 80 runners in the boys’ race.

Wheatmore’s boys placed sixth out of eight scoring teams. Oak Hill Academy was the team champion.

In the girls’ race, Wheatmore’s Olivia Hildreth was 13th in 25:46.21.

DixonAthelete-of-the-WeekRectangle

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Chloe Dixon

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Randleman, volleyball

Dixon played key roles as the Tigers won matches on three consecutive nights last week.

Those results were a 25-27, 25-14, 25-12, 23-25, 15-12 escape at Eastern Randolph in a Piedmont Athletic Conference opener, a 25-17, 25-20, 25-18 non-conference decision against visiting Oak Grove and a 16-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-12 toppling of visiting Wheatmore in another PAC match.

Dixon, a senior hitter and defensive specialist, had a team-high 11 kills to go with 15 digs in the test at Eastern Randolph. She shared team honors with six kills against Oak Grove along with 15 digs. Dixon had four kills and 16 digs in the Wheatmore match.

Asheboro volleyball coach Kim Black Aug2022

Blue Comets spike Trinity in Black’s coaching return as new season begins

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Coach Kim Black directs her team during Monday night’s season opener vs. Trinity. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

ASHEBORO – Kim Black came back as a winner as Asheboro’s volleyball coach.

Black’s third stint as coach of the Blue Comets began with Monday night’s 25-19, 25-17, 25-14 non-conference sweep of visiting Trinity at North Asheboro Middle School.

Kaylen Nance provided 23 assists and Piper Davidson had 12 digs and eight kills for Asheboro. Sarah Hildreth’s six kills and three aces and Ellen Long’s five kills and four blocks also helped the cause for the Blue Comets.

Black, the winningest coach in the program’s history, made other coaching stops since last guiding Asheboro in 2011. She directed past Blue Comets teams to three state finals, winning the Class 3-A state championship in 1994.

Madison Burgiss’ 21 assists and Sarabeth Johnson’s nine kills and four aces paced Trinity.

Monday marked the first day of competition for fall season sports in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. A slate of boys’ soccer games involving area teams was wiped out because of inclement weather or wet conditions, with make-up dates for those games set for later in the week.

SWR volley Coley Shiflet from 2021

Defending champ Cougars eager to see impact of changes for volleyball season

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Coley Shiflet is bound to be a key player again for Southwestern Randolph’s volleyball team. (File photo)

Southwestern Randolph gears up for volleyball season after 2021 state title

ASHEBORO — Southwestern Randolph’s volleyball team has a few different components this season.

There will be a new offensive make-up and a key transfer with the Cougars.

But one thing they don’t want to change is the rate of success.

“There’s a lot of excitement in our gym,” coach Darby Kennedy said. “They want to hold onto the title and defend that title.”

Southwestern Randolph is the reigning Class 2-A state champion.

Kennedy said that the core of the defensive unit has been in place since a year ago, but there will be shifting responsibilities from an offensive standpoint. 

“It’s interesting because we went from having a strong offensive structure for the past few years,” she said. “Now the ball is going to be shared a lot more.”

The first match of the season comes Aug. 17 in a non-league encounter at Asheboro.

It’s a matter of Southwestern Randolph putting the pieces together, and there’s a good foundation for that.

Junior Coley Shiflet, the Most Valuable Player of the state final, is the libero. She’s joined by defensive specialist Carleigh Whitson, a senior. 

Sophomore middle blocker Riley Key might show an upgraded offensive side, while outside hitter Madelyn Smith is a reliable factor. Sophomore outside hitter Gracie Hodgin, an All-Piedmont Athletic Conference selection last year and the daughter of school principal Brian Hodgin, has transferred from Wheatmore and provides good power along with solid service receptions.

Coach Darby Kennedy will hope to direct the Cougars to another special season. (File photo)

“We’re young in the middle,” Kennedy said. “We’ve got some kids who are a little less experienced at some key positions.”

Payton Shiflet and Josie Allred, who were seniors on last season’s 28-5 team, sparked much of the offense.

More responsibilities could fall on the setters in the restructured offense.

“Our strategy has to change so we can be successful all the way around,” Kennedy said. “The more they work on that, I think they’ll gain that confidence and make sure they’re building that chemistry. We’re working on finding that consistency in a new offensive structure.”

The list of potential difference makers also includes senior Julie Johnston and junior Alyssa Harbor.

With such a strong foundation, Southwestern Randolph could be a team capable of another season of excellence.

Molly Smith of Southwestern Randolph’s volleyball team sets the ball during Saturday’s multi-team scrimmage at Wheatmore High School. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)

“We’ve had a lot of conversations about that you win a state championship, and that’s exciting,” Kennedy said. “You get back in the gym and have to start over. We’re always had girls who are willing to work. They’ve been putting their time in. Now it’s a matter of connecting it all together.”

The Cougars ought to learn more this weekend in a multi-team scrimmage in Raleigh that will also include the 2021 Class 3-A and Class 4-A state champions and several other established teams.

Closer to home, the Cougars will be aiming to regenerate the level of enthusiasm that built throughout last season.

“The games ought to be exciting with people flying all over the place,” Kennedy said.