Wednesday’s roundup: East Lincoln roars into conference volleyball lead, Gardner-Webb splits Big South games and Charlotte basketball news

By Richard Walker

East Lincoln High has taken three volleyball wins in the last two days to improve to 7-1 and into first place of the South Fork 2A Conference.

On Wednesday, the Mustangs swept Bandys 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-12) behind Jordan Gromlich (10 kills, 7 solo blocks), Maddy Gartland (11 kills),
Ashley Fowler (5 kills, 17 digs), Kaylees Spees (26 digs, 7 aces) and Katie Cook (31 assists, 10 digs).

On Tuesday, East Lincoln beat Newton-Conover 25-21, 25-10, 25-12 and Maiden 25-16, 25-21 and 25-21.

Against Newton-Conover, the Mustangs were led by Gromlich (13 kills), Spees (23 digs) and Cook (26 assists). And against Maiden, East Lincoln’s leaders were Garland (7 kills), Gromlich (6 kills), Kayla Copping (5 kills), Cook (20 assists, 7 aces) and Spees (19 digs).

On Wednesday, East Lincoln’s junior varsity swept Bandys 25-19 and 25-8. The Mustangs were led by Alexa Dos Santos (9 kills) and Skylar Parks 4 kills

Maiden 3, West Lincoln 0 (25-11, 25-22, 25-18)

Lake Norman Charter 3, West Lincoln 0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-21)

Piedmont Community Charter 3, Cherryville 0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-17)

Highland Tech 3, Thomas Jefferson 0

College men’s basketball
Hampton 80, Gardner-Webb 68: The host Pirates improved to 4-4 and their first-ever 3-0 start in Big South Conference games by handing Gardner-Webb a loss in its league opener.
The teams play again Thursday at Hampton at noon.
Career-highs from Davion Warren with 31 points and Chris Shelton adding 22 led Hampton. Gardner-Webb (1-5, 0-1) got 26 points from Lance Terry.

Charlotte league opener: The 49ers will take a three-game winning streak into Friday’s Conference USA opener at Western Kentucky at 4 p.m. Charlotte (4-3) also is scheduled to play at Western Kentucky on Saturday at 4 p.m.

College women’s basketball
Gardner-Webb 70, Hampton 56: The Bulldogs (2-6, 2-1) used balanced scoring to top the visiting Pirates.
Eleven players scored for Gardner-Webb led by Jhessyka Williams’ 11 points and Ki’Ari Cain’s 10. Alasia Smith added eight points and eight rebounds.
Gardner-Webb will host Hampton again on Thursday at 2 p.m.

Charlotte game postponed: The 49ers Conference USA openers on Friday and Saturday have been postponed due to COVID-19 related concerns. Both programs will work with league office to reschedule the contests later this season.
Charlotte’s conference opener is now slated for Jan. 8 at home against Marshall.