7 local teams in N.C. High School Athletic Association volleyball playoffs, including 4 conference champions

By Richard Walker

Kings Mountain won its seventh conference title in 11 years this season and opens the state playoffs at home on Tuesday.

Seven teams from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties will begin pursuing N.C. High School Athletic Association volleyball titles after the 2020-21 playoff pairings were released on Saturday.

First round matches begin on Tuesday.

In Class 3A, perennial power Kings Mountain (11-1) is the No. 6 seed in the Western N.C. bracket after winning the Big South 3A title and Big South runner-up Crest (9-2) is the No. 10 seed. The Mountaineers, who are making their area-record 34th playoff appearance, will host Southern Carolina 3A runner-up Marvin Ridge (10-3) while Crest visits Western Mountain 3A champion T.C. Roberson (13-1). Crest is in the playoffs for a 28th year since the NCHSAA began volleyball playoffs in the fall of 1976.

In Class 2A, South Fork 2A champion East Lincoln (10-1) is the No. 4 seed in the Western N.C. bracket and Southwestern 2A runner-up South Point (10-2) is the No. 10 seed. East Lincoln, making its county-record 18th playoff appearance, will host Northwestern Foothills 2A runner-up Patton (12-2). South Point, making its 14th Gaston County appearance, is at Central Carolina 2A champion South Rowan (14-1).

And in Class 1A, PAC 7 2A champion Mountain Island Charter (14-0) is the No. 1 seed in the Western N.C. bracket, Southern Piedmont 1A champion Highland Tech (11-0) is a No. 8 seed and Southern Piedmont 1A runner-up Lincoln Charter (10-3) is a No. 10 seed. Mountain Island Charter will be making its fifth playoff appearance at home against Northwest 1A third-place finisher Mount Airy (8-5). Highland Tech, making its 11th playoff appearance, hosts PAC 7 1A runner-up Community School of Davidson (12-2). And South Piedmont 1A runner-up Lincoln Charter (10-3) visits Big Smoky Mountain 1A champoion Murphy (13-0).

Tuesday’s winners advance to the second round on Thursday. The playoffs will continue with regional semifinals next Saturday, regional finals on Jan. 18 and state championship matches on Jan. 23.

Kings Mountain, under coach Heather Pasour, won their seventh league title in 11 years.

East Lincoln, under coach Stacy Possert, won its third league championship in four years.

Highland Tech, under coach Daniel Poole, won its first league title in school history.

And Mountain Island Charter, under coach Jim Seidel, won its second straight league championship.

Here are the area’s final high school volleyball standings with conference record, overall record:

Big South 3A
Kings Mountain 11-0, 11-1
Crest 8-2, 9-2
Forestview 7-4, 7-4
North Gaston 5-6, 5-8
Cramer 4-8, 4-9
Ashbrook 3-9, 3-10
Huss 0-9, 0-9

Southwestern 2A
R-S Central 12-0, 12-0
South Point 9-2, 10-2
East Rutherford 6-6, 7-7
East Gaston 3-4, 5-4
Shelby 3-9, 3-10
Burns 2-8, 3-8
Chase 1-11, 1-11

East Lincoln High’s volleyball team won it third conference title in four years this season.

South Fork 2A
East Lincoln 10-1, 10-1
Maiden 11-3, 11-3
Bandys 10-3, 10-3
Lake Norman Charter 9-5, 9-5
North Lincoln 4-8, 4-8
Newton-Conover 3-9, 3-9
West Lincoln 2-10, 2-10
Lincolnton 0-10, 0-10

Southern Piedmont 1A
Highland Tech 11-0, 11-0
Lincoln Charter 9-3, 10-3
Christ the King 8-3, 9-3
Piedmont CC 6-5, 6-5
Cherryville 4-8, 4-9
Thomas Jefferson 2-10, 2-10
Bessemer City 0-11, 0-12

PAC 7 1A
Mountain Island Charter 14-0, 14-0
Community School Davidson 12-2, 12-2
Union Academy 10-4, 10-4
Pine Lake Prep 8-6, 8-6
Bradford Prep 6-8, 6-8
Langtree Charter 4-10, 4-10
Queen’s Grant 2-12, 2-12
Carolina International 0-14, 0-14