Gray Stone volleyball advances to 1A Sweet 16 with win
Published 11:12 pm Wednesday, October 27, 2021
- Gray Stone's Lannah Huneycutt (No. 22) sets the ball for Mandi Stoyanov (No. 21) during Tuesday's second-round match. (Photo by Daphne Daugherty)
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Gray Stone’s volleyball team entered Tuesday’s second-round matchup on the road at No. 6 seeded Christ the King in Huntersville looking to get to the Round of 16 for the first time since the 2014 season.
The No. 11 seeded Knights built a lead early in the first set and swept the match with scores of 25-18, 29-27 and 25-14.
Junior Piper Mauldin led Gray Stone (18-4) with 15 kills while seniors Mandi Stoyanov and Olivia Eldridge added eight and seven kills, respectively. Mauldin also led the Knights with seven service aces and added four blocks. Stoyanov led Gray Stoen with five total blocks, and Lannah Huneycutt and Aniston Belk had three blocks each.
Margaret Huckabee led five in digs for Gray Stone with 17 while Huneycutt led the team with 26 assists.
“Our defense played as one unit. They did a good job reading their hitters,” head coach Rebecca Carter said.
“Piper was on fire tonight.”
She added Gray Stone’s blockers were excellent in the win and “fought hard.”
The Knights will travel to Asheboro Thursday to face a former conference foe, the No. 3 seeded Uwharrie Charter Eagles. The Eagles (19-5) advanced to the third round with a 3-0 win over Cornerstone Charter.
About Charles Curcio
Charles Curcio has served as the sports editor of the Stanly News & Press for more than 16 years and has written numerous news and feature storeis as well. He was awarded the NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and named CNHI Sports Editor of the Year in 2014. He has also won an award from Boone Newspapers, and has won four North Carolina Press Association awards.
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