Oct 20

Oct 20 NCHSAA 3A Playoff Preview: #19 South Lenoir at #5 Midway

NCHSAA 3A Playoff Preview: #19 South Lenoir at #5 Midway

On October 21, 2025, the #19 seed South Lenoir Blue Devils (6-15) travel to face the #3 seed Midway Raiders (15-6) in the second round of the NCHSAA 3A volleyball playoffs at 6:00 PM. Coming off a 3-0 upset over #14 Greene Central, South Lenoir, winners of three of their last four, face a powerhouse Midway team that earned a first-round bye after dominating their conference. The teams met in 2024 (Midway won 3-0) and the 2019 playoffs (Midway won 3-0). Here’s a detailed look at Midway’s elite stats and key players as South Lenoir prepares for this daunting road challenge against one of the state’s top programs.

Midway’s Season Overview

The Raiders, coached by Brandy Wrench, posted a 15-6 overall record and a near-perfect 11-1 mark in the Swine Valley 2A/3A Conference (2nd place). They went 9-1 at home, 6-5 away, with a four-match win streak entering the playoffs. Ranked 33rd in their DMA, 125th in North Carolina, and 8th in 3A, Midway is a juggernaut that crushed conference opponents but showed playoff-ready grit in non-conference play, losing to Harnett Central (3-1 twice), Cleveland (3-0), Cape Fear (3-1), and Lumberton (3-0) before rebounding with a 3-1 win over Lumberton on October 8. Their 21-match schedule featured elite competition, honing a balanced attack that’s propelled them to a top-3 seed and a legitimate state title contender.

Midway’s Statistical Breakdown

Across 84 sets, Midway is a statistical powerhouse, averaging 9.6 kills per set (804 total, 53.2% kill percentage, 0.374 hitting percentage on 1510 attempts, just 240 errors). Their serving is lethal with 170 aces (2.0 per set, 90.7% serving percentage on 1340 serves, 125 errors), while defense shines with 649 digs (7.7 per set, 267 errors) and 150 total blocks (146 solo, 7 assisted, 1.8 per set, 225 errors). The Raiders’ 678 assists (8.1 per set, only 22 errors) and 716 receptions (8.5 per set, 156 errors) reflect an efficient, low-mistake machine that overwhelms foes with precision and power.

Key Matches

Wins: Midway dismantled conference rivals with sweeps of Rosewood (3-0, three times), Goldsboro (3-0, twice), James Kenan (3-0, twice), and Spring Creek (3-0, twice). Standout performances include a 3-1 victory over Princeton (August 21) and a decisive 3-0 sweep of Wallace-Rose Hill (October 15) after an earlier loss.
Losses: Even in defeat, they competed fiercely—falling to Harnett Central (3-1, August 12 and September 8, 14 and 17 attack errors), Cleveland (3-0, August 13), Cape Fear (3-1, September 22, 14 errors), Lumberton (3-0, October 1, 14 errors), and Wallace-Rose Hill (3-1, September 25, 25 errors)—proving their resilience against top-tier squads.

Player Stats

Kaedyn Moran (Sr., OH): Elite leader with 356 kills (5.3 per set, 61.9% kill percentage, 0.482 hitting percentage, 575 attempts, 57 errors), 33 aces, 169 digs (2.5 per set), 169 receptions (32 errors), 18 blocks (0.3 per set).
Gracyn Hall (Sr., OH): Dynamic scorer with 228 kills (3.4 per set, 50.1% kill percentage, 0.327 hitting percentage, 457 attempts, 45 errors), 38 aces, 116 digs (1.7 per set), 166 receptions (43 errors), 5 blocks.
Ella Clark (Jr., S/RS): Surgical setter with 627 assists (9.4 per set, 15 errors), 21 kills, 44 aces, 109 digs (1.6 per set), 23 receptions, 9 blocks.
Peyton Herring (Sr., MH): Net dominator with 45 kills (0.7 per set), 49 blocks (0.7 per set, 46 solo), 2 aces, 23 digs, 23 receptions.
Abbie Beasley (Jr., L/DS): Defensive anchor with 4 kills, 13 aces, 127 digs (1.9 per set), 230 receptions (51 errors).
Cailyn Hewlett (Jr., RS): Versatile contributor with 120 kills (1.8 per set, 0.225 hitting percentage, 276 attempts), 34 blocks (0.5 per set), 34 aces, 46 digs.
Kyleigh Stonerock (Jr., MB/RS): Block specialist with 16 kills, 25 blocks (0.5 per set), 3 digs.

Key Players to Watch

Kaedyn Moran: A senior phenom with 356 kills and a scorching 0.482 hitting percentage, plus 169 digs and receptions. Her all-around dominance makes her Midway’s MVP—South Lenoir must serve to her 32 reception errors to slow her.
Ella Clark: The offensive architect with 627 assists, adding 44 aces and 109 digs. Her pinpoint setting fuels Midway’s attack; disrupting her rhythm is essential.
Peyton Herring: A blocking beast with 49 blocks (46 solo), she shuts down middles. South Lenoir hitters need sharp angles to evade her.
Abbie Beasley: Back-row leader with 127 digs and 230 receptions (51 errors). Her passing is key—aggressive serves could rattle Midway’s foundation.

Midway’s Strengths

Offense: Moran (356 kills) and Hall (228 kills) power a clinic in efficiency (0.374 hitting percentage), with Clark’s 627 assists minimizing turnovers.
Blocking: Herring (49 blocks) and Hewlett (34 blocks) deliver 1.8 blocks per set, forming an impenetrable front that’s key to their top-seed status.
Serving: 170 aces at 90.7% accuracy, led by Clark and Hall, pressure opponents relentlessly.
Home Record: Undefeated in nine of 10 home matches, Midway thrives under the lights with elite execution.

Midway’s Challenges

Reception Errors: 156 errors (8.5 per set), notably Beasley (51) and Hall (43), offer a rare chink against tough serves.
Attack Errors: 240 total (11.4 per match), spiking in losses (e.g., 25 vs. Wallace-Rose Hill), hint at pressure points.
Non-Conference Tests: Losses to Harnett Central and Lumberton reveal minor vulnerabilities to explosive offenses, though they’ve adapted.

South Lenoir’s Game Plan

South Lenoir (6-15, 3-1 in last four) rides upset momentum but faces a steep climb:

Serve Aggressively: Hammer Beasley (230 receptions, 51 errors) and Moran (169 receptions, 32 errors) to fracture Midway’s elite passing.
Vary Attacks: Mix tips and edges to navigate Herring’s 49 blocks and capitalize on Midway’s 225 block errors.
Force Errors: Extend rallies to trigger Midway’s 240 attack errors (11.4 per match), leveraging their defensive grit.
Stay Composed: Counter Midway’s runs early, as seen in their 3-0 sweep of South Lenoir last year.

Game Outlook

Midway’s 15-6 record, top-3 seed, bye week, and 9-1 home dominance cement them as overwhelming favorites—a battle-tested squad with 804 kills, 150 blocks, and surgical precision poised for a deep run. South Lenoir’s grit and recent surge could steal a set, but targeting Midway’s 156 reception errors and 240 attack miscues is their only shot at competitiveness. This mismatch favors the Raiders’ firepower and poise in a projected 3-0 or 3-1 triumph, but the Blue Devils’ upset magic keeps it intriguing.