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SOUTHPORT — It was an ending hardly worthy of its start on Tuesday when West Bladen High traveled to Southport for a Waccamaw Conference match with South Brunswick High on the volleyball floor.

The Lady Knights, undefeated on the season thus far, battled the Lady Cougars for a 25-21 first-game win. But the Lady Knights then saw things take a turn as South Brunswick fought back to take the next three games and the match by scores of 25-23, 25-21 and 25-19.

A handful of Lady Knights filled the stat sheet, as Kaitlyn Sykes led West Bladen with 20 service points, followed by Mallory Davis with 19 service points and 12 blocks. Abbey Walters added 13 service points and nine kills, while Courtney Thompson contributed six kills and four blocks.

West Bladen, with its first loss of the season, is now 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

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Volleyball

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— In Tabor City on Tuesday, the Lady Eagles of East Bladen High fell to South Columbus High in Waccamaw Conference action. The Lady Stallions took the match by scores of 25-21, 25-14, 24-26 and 28-26.

The loss drops East Bladen to 2-5 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

Natalie Hardin tallied five aces for the lady Eagles, while Melissa Macon added nine kills and Lacey Suggs had six kills.

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Tennis

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In Southport on Tuesday, West Bladen High’s Lady Knights were nipped 5-4 by South Brunswick High in a Waccamaw Conference matchup.

The loss drops West Bladen to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the conference.

“I really thought our girls played very well today,” said Jeff Atkinson, West Bladen coach. “South has always been real strong in tennis …”

The Lady Knights got wins from Erica Tanner at No. 2 singles (6-4, 5-7, 10-7); Hannah Dowless at No. 3 singles (6-0, 6-2); Nicole Nye at No. 5 singles (7-6, 6-3); and the team of Dowless and Nye at No. 2 doubles (8-6).

Three matches went to third-set tie-breakers, with South Brunswick taking two of those wins.

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Soccer

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— In Lake Waccamaw on Wednesday, East Bladen High earned a 2-0 non-conference win over East Columbus High on the pitch.

The win improves the Eagles to 2-2.

After a scoreless first half, the Eagles’ Joel Cromartie put what turned out to be the winning goal into the back of the net 12 minutes into the second half. Moments later, Hastin McGill scored an insurance goal for East Bladen off a pass from Cromartie.

The Eagles dominated play from the start, outshooting the Gators by a 15-3 margin.