Hawks Keep Soaring as North Lenoir Enters Back Half of Schedule on a 13-Match Win Streak
North Lenoir Keeps Rolling, Climbs to 4th in East RPI Standings
North Lenoir volleyball continued its dominant run through the Three Rivers Conference, improving to 16-1 overall and 9-0 in league play after another undefeated week. The Hawks have now won 13 straight matches and sit 4th in the East and 11th overall in the state RPI rankings, cementing themselves among North Carolina’s top 2A programs.
It was another statement stretch for North Lenoir, which swept three straight opponents by scores of 25-8, 25-10, 25-9, 25-17, 25-10, 25-13, and 25-12, 25-11, 25-11. The Hawks haven’t dropped a set since August 20, extending their set streak to 36 straight.
Senior Lakyn Whitley once again led the charge, combining for 47 kills over the three matches while staying steady from the service line. Camryn Jenkins added 22 service points and 7 kills, Kennedi Starkie posted 7 kills and 11 service points, and Sky Doyle controlled the offense with 62 assists across the week. Haley Hemby, Fawn Creech, and Bijou Sutton also contributed key stretches at the service line and net.
Head coach Heather Carson said the key to the team’s success is focus and togetherness. “We are still trying to just get better each game,” Carson said. “The girls are really focused and really playing well together. They know it takes all of them. We have to stay focused and be ready to play. I’ve told them everybody is going to give you their best game, and we have to be ready.”
The Hawks’ success is becoming a continuation of the program’s rich tradition. Last season’s team put together a 17-match win streak, while the 2015 group opened 19-0. The longest known streak in school history came in 2008, when North Lenoir won its first 24 matches before falling to Cedar Ridge in the playoffs — a mark this year’s squad is inching closer to.
North Lenoir will host Washington on Oct. 7 before visiting West Craven on Oct. 9 in a matchup that could secure the Hawks another regular-season conference crown.
Three Rivers Conference Standings
North Lenoir — 9-0 (16-1 overall)
North Johnston — 6-3 (11-7 overall)
West Craven — 5-3 (10-6 overall)
SouthWest Edgecombe — 5-3 (8-8 overall)
Washington — 4-4 (8-9 overall)
North Pitt — 1-8 (2-15 overall)
Eastern Wayne — 0-9 (0-13 overall)
