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The floor burns have returned as high school volleyball matches have kicked off across the state. In Chatham County, several local teams are entering what should be their second normal season following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The shock of the offseason was the rush of change that swept over the Northwood volleyball program, which is fresh off a 24-6 campaign in 2021. The Chargers finished second in the Central 3A Conference behind Cedar Ridge during the regular season and fell to the Fighting Red Wolves, 3-0, in the fourth round of the 3A state playoffs.
Northwood — which started the 2022 season Monday at Apex — graduated seven of its 10 players over the offseason, including all-conference selection Hannah Forbes (507 kills, 48 aces, 22 blocks, 360 digs), Ainsley Fauth, Kayee Atkins, Natalie Bell, Olivia Thrill and Annika Kearsley. The Chargers will also be without 2021 Central 3A Conference player of the year and junior outside hitter Asia Thigpen, who is committed to play collegiately at Kentucky. Thigpen — who totaled 545 kills, 63 aces, 27 blocks and 276 digs last season — transferred to Green Level High in Cary.
The Chargers also have a new head coach in Cameron Vernon, Northwood’s athletic director and former girls basketball coach. Vernon — who has no prior experience coaching volleyball — is looking at the year as an opportunity to reset.
“I look at it and I’ve tried to turn it into a positive,” Vernon said. “It’s an opportunity for them to step up and play and accomplish some of the goals they have as volleyball players and as a team. It’s just next woman up. Someone has to step up and fill the roles we need.”
Outside of Northwood, a majority of the county action this season will take place in the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A Conference, where Chatham Central, Jordan-Matthews and Seaforth are all fighting to win a league championship. The best of the three teams in 2021 was Central, which finished the year 12-14 overall but finished second in conference play with a 9-3 record.
The Bears, who opened the season with a 3-1 loss to Burlington Williams on Monday, return several key contributors from last season, including sophomore Outside hitter Karaleigh Dodson (202 kills, 21 blocks) and senior outside hitter/setter Abby Johnson (90 aces, 33 digs). Chatham Central will try to maintain its perfect record against Seaforth and Jordan-Matthews this season after dropping just a set between the four combined matches it played against them last season.
Both Seaforth and Jordan-Matthews finished with a 5-7 mark in conference play last season, with the Hawks ending the year 7-10 overall and the Jets wrapping up at 7-13.
Seaforth will be led by a handful of returners from last season, including sophomore Maris Hunneycutt (35 kills, 63 aces, 95 digs, 199 assists), sophomore Mia Kellam (41 aces, 124 digs, 251 serves received) and junior Lilian Dulin (60 kill, 12 blocks). The Hawks opened the season with two matches Monday and Wednesday against Southern Lee and River Mill.
The Jets, meanwhile, hosted South Davidson in their first match Monday. Expected to lead the team this season are junior middle hitter Reagan Smith and junior setter Janeyra Guerrero-Jaimes.
Switching gears to the Central Tar Heel 1A Conference, the Woods Charter and Chatham Charter volleyball team will try to pick up where they left off after finishing 1-2 in the league standings last fall.
The Wolves, who finished the year 18-4 overall after falling in the third round of the state playoffs, will be led this season by junior outside hitter Lexi Smollen (474 kills, 69 aces, 193 digs) and sophomore setter Maya Sheridan (542 kills, 65 aces, 120 digs).
The Knights, meanwhile, went 17-7 overall in 2021. Chatham Charter graduated a few senior contributors, but it returns the bulk of its production from a year ago. Expected to lead the charge on the court are seniors Emerson Clark (332 kills, 90 aces, 25 blocks, 375 digs), Alison Perez (430 assists) and Tamaya Walden (83 kills, 47 aces, 162 digs).
Jeremy Vernon can be reached at jeremy@chathamnr.com or @jbo_vernon.