Area high school volleyball teams are in full practice mode in anticipation for the start of the regular season Aug. 11. As squads prepare for the action to heat up, here are 10 questions facing the local volleyball scene:
What will Croatan’s record look like?
Croatan once again faces a tough nonconference schedule with games against J.H. Rose, D.H. Conley, East Duplin, Topsail and New Bern.
The difficult slate has helped the Cougars prepare for Coastal Conference play, but has also meant Croatan suffered some defeats.
They lost nine games the last two seasons and lost 10 in 2024. Croatan will certainly rely senior leadership from Sunny Johnson and McKenna O’Kane to keep things in perspective if the Cougars don’t have many early victories.
Can Dixon turn the corner?
Dixon went 11-13 last year and has not had a winning season since it was 8-3 in the 2020-2021 abbreviated season – the Bulldogs were .500 in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Dixon looks to be more consistent as it had one three-game winning streak and a two-game streak last year along with a pair of two-game skids and one three-game skid.
The Bulldogs have the players to take the next step in senior Lizzy Capps and juniors Aileen Lowman and Alani Stone and they only graduated six seniors.
Can East Duplin run it back?
Last year, East Duplin finished 22-3 overall, 10-0 in the East Central 3-A/4-A Conference for its first conference title since 2018 and advanced to the fourth round of the playoffs.
The Panthers graduated five seniors, including two key contributors, but return seniors Kinsey Cave, Lauren Cottle and Karsyn Parker, junior Sophia Jones and sophomore Bennett Holley.
East Duplin opens with rival Wallace-Rose Hill and faces Croatan, Topsail, J.H. Rose, North Duplin and Jacksonville before entering ECC play as the league favorite.
How well will Jacksonville compete?
It’s perhaps a disadvantage for Jacksonville playing in the Big Carolina 6-A/7-A Conference with powers D.H. Conley and J.H. Rose, along with South Central and New Bern.
Since moving into the conference in 2021, the Cardinals have had just one winning season as they are 17-26 overall the last two years. However, the records may be deceiving, considering that again, Jacksonville faces some of the state’s best teams multiple times.
With the leadership of seniors Athena Teel and Lakota Flatt, combined with winnable matches early, the Cardinals have potential to establish momentum before they tip off conference action.
Can Swansboro keep sailing?
It was a special season last year for Swansboro as the Pirates went 20-4 for their most wins since 2013, earned their first playoff win since 2013 and advanced to the third round of the first time since 2009.
The Pirates won all of their nonconference matches with their only defeats being a pair of four-set losses to West Carteret, a three-set loss to Croatan in the conference tournament and a three-set playoff defeat to Union Pines.
On paper, the Pirates are poised to compete for the league title with the return of all-area standouts, seniors Payton Hislop and Savannah Navarro, and junior Reece Hislop.
Can anyone knock off West Carteret?
It appears every year the big question is if anyone contend with West Carteret for the Coastal 5-A/6-A Conference title as the Patriots have won the league crown the last three seasons.
Despite dropping both games to West Carteret, Swansboro finished just one game behinb them last year. Croatan split two games with West Carteret and downed the Patriots in the conference tournament final.
Those results prove it can be done, although the Patriots likely won’t relinquish the throne without a fight.
Who makes the most improvement?
Northside, Richlands and White Oak went 14-50 combined last year with the Monarchs and Vikings each winning six matches and the Wildcats winning twice.
The trio graduated key players, but return players they hope will step up, such as seniors Alyssa Whitcomb and Avery Sise and sophomore Mackenzie Stevens of White Oak, senior Cheyenne Jones and Arianna Washington of Northside and senior Jocelyne Carroll and junior Brooke Arcangelo of Richlands.
Where do Lejeune and Southwest go?
Lejeune and Southwest each had their best season in recent years last year as the Devilpups finished 10-10 and the Stallions were 11-10.
Southwest returns the trio of senior Skylar Phillips, junior Taylor Orr and sophomore Liliana Artiga while Lejeune returns junior Chloe Golike.
Which private school stands out?
Jacksonville Christian Academy has recently been the area’s best private school as the Conquerors have won 46 games the last two years. Liberty Christian Academy was 14-10 last year, and has competed well in recent seasons.
The Conquerors and Heat continue to test themselves as JCA plays Northside this year and LCA plays Lejeune while Living Water Christian will play Pamlico.
Who will be area player of year?
Cave was named the area’s player of year last season, and the senior will certainly be up for the honor again this fall.
Cave, however, has company as O’Kane, the Swansboro sister Hislop duo and Flatt and Teel have potential to win the award.