RALEIGH– Junior middle hitter Malaya Johnson was named the Most Valuable Player as she helped lead North Surry to a dramatic five-set victory over South Granville for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 2-A volleyball championship at Reynolds Coliseum on the N.C. State campus.
North Surry seemed to be in command, taking the first two sets 25-19 and 26-24, before South Granville stormed back to even the match with 25-19 and 25-16 victories. But the Greyhounds prevailed in the decisive set, finally winning 19-17.
Johnson had 12 kills and 12 blocks for the winners while Kristina Rumplasch added 11 kilds. The Greyhound Abby Golding was credited with 21 digs.
Senior outside hitter Mary Catherine Preddy led South Granville with 18 kills and Logan Bradshaw added 10.
North Surry finished the year at 33-2 and was in the championship match for the third time. The Greyhounds had beaten Hillsborough Cedar Ridge for the 2009 2-A title and were the state runners-up back in 1988. South Granville, in its first volleyball championship, wound up 22-6.
NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
37TH ANNUAL STATE VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIIONSHIPS
Reynolds Coliseum, North Carolina State University
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
CLASS AA CHAMPIONSHIP
North Surry def. South Granville 25-19, 26-24, 19-25, 16-25, 19-17
CLASS AAA CHAMPIONSHIP– 2:30 pm
Cardinal Gibbons High School Crusaders (19-3) vs. China Grove Jesse Carson High School Cougars (35-3)
CLASS AAAA CHAMPIONSHIP—5 pm
Raleigh Leesville Road High School Pride (27-0) vs. Charlotte Ardrey Kell High School Knights (30-1)
CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP–7:30 pm
Raleigh Charter High School Phoenix (22-5) vs. Hendersonville High School Bearcats (20-6)