The Elizabethtown Middle girls’ soccer team defeated East Columbus 7-0 on Tuesday.
Kenneth Armstrong / kenarmphoto.com
The Elizabethtown Middle boys’ soccer team played at East Columbus on Tuesday, losing to the Gators 3-0.
Kenneth Armstrong / kenarmphoto.com
Kenneth Armstrong / kenarmphoto.com
Kenneth Armstrong / kenarmphoto.com
Kenneth Armstrong / kenarmphoto.com
Kenneth Armstrong / kenarmphoto.com
SOUTHPORT – West Bladen was swept in a volleyball match for first place in the Southeastern Conference.
South Brunswick (10-4, 5-0 Southeastern) won 25-15, 25-16, 25-22 to take sole possession of first place at the halfway point of the conference schedule. The teams are scheduled to close the regular season at West Bladen on Oct. 9.
“I am so proud of the girls,” West Bladen coach Jessica Rhodes said. “They had to step up and play different positions due to sudden and unexpected injuries today. Together they worked through tough times and tough situations that life has thrown at us as a team this week and they did it with encouragement, positivity and a smile.
“It isn’t the outcome that any of us wanted on the scoreboard, but the bigger picture and life lesson is these girls are tough and resilient. Everyone can be happy when they are winning, but sometimes life gets hard and we go through unexpected situations where we feel like we aren’t winning. My joy comes from knowing that this group of girls is going to be just fine in life no matter what is thrown at them.”
West Bladen (10-2, 4-1 Southeastern), had a five-match win streak snapped.
“Tonight, we had to just stop and be thankful to be able to play even if it wasn’t our best game,” Rhodes said. “We are blessed to have the opportunity to play a game we all love and have fun in the midst of all of the hardships life throws at us sometimes.”
West Bladen statistics: Greer Pope (7 assists, ace, dig), Kali Allen (3 digs, kill, tip kill), Makenna Thurman (kill, block), Natalie Sykes (3 assists, kill, block, tip kill), Tahlela Bethea (2 kills, 2 blocks), Helaina Conklin (4 kills, 3 tip kills, ace, dig), Brenna hester (dig), Shanna Lewis (3 digs, ace, assist), Kimberly Dowless (3 kills, tip kill), Karlee Gause (2 assists).
Varsity Volleyball: Hobbton 3, East Bladen 1
In Newton Grove, Hobbton moved into first place in the Carolina Conference with a 25-20, 17-25, 25-11, 25-22 victory against East Bladen (3-11, 3-4 Carolina). Hobbton (10-3, 7-1 Carolina) broke a tie with idle East Columbus (10-1, 6-1 Carolina) for the conference lead.
Leading the Eagles (3-11, 3-4 Carolina) was Aubrei Nixon with three kills, six service aces, and a pair of blocks. Tatum Allen had six service aces and three digs.
Also on the scoresheet were Taylor Dowless (4 kills, ace, 2 blocks, 7 digs), Cabria Baldwin (ace, 2 blocks, dig), Marlee Potter (2 digs), Mileigh Martin (7 digs), Addie Douglas (4 digs), Nadya Colon (dig).
JV Volleyball: East Bladen 2, Hobbton 0
In Newton Grove, East Bladen won its 10th match with a 25-14, 25-6 victory against Hobbton.
Bella Beard led the Eagles (10-3, 5-1 Carolina) with six service aces, four kills and as assists. Other players on the scoresheet for East Bladen were Harlie Shaw (2 aces, 11 assists), Tenley Dowless (4 aces, 3 kills), Maylin McMichael (ace, kill), Julia Flowers (ace, 5 kills), Gracey Edwards (3 kills), Addie Douglas (6 aces, dig), Chloe Merritt (3 assists), Avianna Whittington (ace).
JV Volleyball: South Brunswick 2, West Bladen 1
In Southport, the Cougars narrowly won the deciding set in a 25-20, 22-25, 15-13 against West Bladen (10-2, 4-1 Southeastern).
Kynslie Kinlaw paced the Knights with eight kills, two aces and a block while Berkleigh Guy had four kills and two service aces. Other players on the scoresheet were Chloe Walters (ace, 6 digs), Vera Valentiner (ace, block, dig), Bristol Allen (ace, 2 kills, block), Amiya McCarty-Maxfield (2 aces, 2 kills, block), Hadley Dove (kill).
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Volleyball: Emereau 2, Harrells 1
In Harrells, Emereau rallied after dropping the first set for an 18-25, 27-25, 15-12 victory against the Crusaders.
“The girls battled and kept the game alive (in the second set),” Emereau coach Paige Burney said. “Keri (Faye Burgess) guarded the net and Kenley Brisson had an awesome dig.”
Service points for Emereau (5-4) were Delana Phillips (9 with 6 aces), Harper Allen (9), Burgess 7 with 2 aces), Kaitlynn Wright (3 with ace), Mae Valenter (2 with 2 aces), Lilly Melvin (2 with ace), Anna White (2).
Girls’ Soccer: Elizabethtown 7, East Columbus 0
In Lake Waccamaw, Britney Scarlett netted a hat trick as the Cougars (3-1) shut out East Columbus. Jeniyah Whittington and Allison Martinez each scored two goals for Elizabethtown.
Boys’ Soccer: East Columbus 3, Elizabethtown 0
In Lake Waccamaw, the homestanding Gators shut out Elizabethtown (1-3).
Boys’ Soccer: Emereau postponed
The Cape Fear Academy at Emereau game was postponed. A makeup date has not been determined. The Aviators have a 5-2-1 record.
RECREATION
Youth soccer
At County Park, winners in the Bladen County Recreation Department’s youth soccer leagues were Courage, Spirit, Fury, Quakes, Galaxy, Thunder, Burn, Arsenal, Dynamos, Lightning, Sharks and Titans.
The Courage, Fury and Sharks remained unbeaten.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 23
HIGH SCHOOL
Volleyball
Varsity: South Brunswick 3, West Bladen 0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-22)
Varsity: Hobbton 3, East Bladen 1 (25-20, 17-25, 25-11, 25-22)
JV: South Brunswick 2, West Bladen 1 (25-20, 22-25, 15-13)
JV: East Bladen 2, Hobbton 0 (25-14, 25-6)
Girls’ Tennis
West Bladen at South Brunswick
Cross Country
East Bladen at North Duplin
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Volleyball
Emereau 2, Harrells Christian 1 (18-25, 27-25, 15-12)
Soccer
Boys: East Columbus 3, Elizabethtown 0
Girls: Elizabethtown 7, East Columbus 0
Boys: Cape Fear Academy at Emereau, postponed
RECREATION
5-6-Year-Old Soccer at Bladen County Park
Sharks, 5, Grizzlies 1
Dynamos 2, Hornets 0
Titans 2, Mutiny 0
Lightning 2, Raptors 2 (Lightning wins on PKs)
7-9-Year-Old Boys’ Soccer at Bladen County Park
Fury 8, Cosmos 2
Quakes 4, Timbers 2
Galaxy 2, Railhawks 1
Thunder 4, Revolution 0
7-9-Year-Old Girls’ Soccer at Bladen County Park
Burn 6, Fusion 2
Arsenal 3, Alliance 0
10-12-Year-Old Girls’ Soccer at Bladen County Park
Cougars 6, Fire 1
Spirit 2, Stars 2 (Spirit wins on PKs)
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24
HIGH SCHOOL
Boys’ Soccer
East Bladen at Lakewood, 6 p.m.
West Bladen at Red Springs, 6 p.m.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 25
HIGH SCHOOL
Boys’ Soccer
JV: Whiteville at East Bladen, 4:30 p.m.
Volleyball
Whiteville at West Bladen, JV 4:30 p.m., Varsity 6 p.m.
North Duplin at East Bladen, JV 4:30 p.m., Varsity 6 p.m.
Girls’ Tennis
Whiteville at West Bladen, 4 p.m.
JV Football
East Bladen at Hobbton, 6:30 p.m.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Volleyball
Sampson vs. Emereau at Elizabethtown Baptist Church, 4 p.m.
Soccer
Bladenboro at Williams Township, Girls 4 p.m.; Boys 5:15 p.m.
Tar Heel at Whiteville, Girls 4 p.m.; Boys 5:15 p.m.
Sampson at Emereau, Boys 4 p.m.
RECREATION
5-6-Year-Old Soccer at Bladen County Park
Grizzlies vs. Raptors, 6 p.m.
Lightning vs. Hornets, 6 p.m.
Mutiny vs. Sharks, 7 p.m.
Dynamos vs. Titans, 7 p.m.
7-9-Year-Old Boys’ Soccer at Bladen County Park
Fury vs. Galaxy, 6 p.m.
Thunder vs. Quakes, 6 p.m.
Cosmos vs. Timbers, 7 p.m.
Railhawks vs. Revolution, 7 p.m.
7-9-Year-Old Girls’ Soccer at Bladen County Park
Arsenal vs. Fusion, 6 p.m.
Rapids vs. Burn, 7 p.m.
10-12-Year-Old Boys’ Soccer at Bladen County Park
Crew vs. DC United, 6 p.m.
Spartans vs. Bolt, 7 p.m.