East Gaston volleyball beats rival, takes league title. Here's how

East Gaston High School volleyball triumphed over their rival, Stuart Cramer, to secure the Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A title on Thursday, October 8th. Head coach Kendall Maggs noticed her heart rate was higher than normal, at around 159 beats per minute, but remained determined as she explained, "For me, this is like a championship."

The Warriors claimed their first league title since 2021, marking a significant victory for the Warriors, who had previously lost to Cramer in a five-set match on September 15th. The Warriors' sole loss throughout the Southern Piedmont conference season was a testament to their exceptional performance.

Despite Cramer's initial lead in the opening set with a score of 29-27, East Gaston quickly rebounded in the second set, defeating Cramer 25-19. The third set saw Cramer gaining an early advantage, but East Gaston rebounded once again with a 25-19 victory. In the fourth set, East Gaston turned the tide by seizing the last eight points of the set, overcoming a 22-17 deficit to claim a 25-22 win and ultimately a league championship.

Star players Alyssa Walker and Carsyn Simmons played pivotal roles in East Gaston's rally, disrupting Cramer's shots and securing key points. Coach Maggs commended the players, stating, "These girls give it all they have. They're willing to risk themselves to win. If they peeled back their knee pads, you'd be able to see how much they put into this and really want it."

With this victory, East Gaston improved their overall record to 19-9 (14-1 in Southern Piedmont). They will now advance to next week's conference tournament starting Monday, where they will begin as the top seed. Coach Maggs expressed excitement for the upcoming tournament, noting, "The conference tournament will help us build our communication and keep energy levels high throughout."