Girls volleyball ends season with 10-0 record

By John Smithson

The NMB Lady Chiefs volleyball team swept through the region VI 5A regular season with a 10-0 record and another championship as they prepare for a run at a second consecutive state championship.

The Chiefs ended their regular season matches last week with wins over St. James and Myrtle Beach to get that 10-0 record. Then they headed south for a weekend of tournament play at the Wando Invitational.

Last Tuesday the Chiefs traveled to St. James for their match with the Lady Sharks. The Chiefs won 3-0 (25-11, 25-16, 25-22). Clara Cloninger had 14 kills for the Chiefs offense and Lilly Loeswick 11 kills. Katlyn Powers had 15 digs to lead the Chiefs in the match and Loeswick had 13 digs and Cloninger 12. Mikayla Altena had 29 assists in the match.

The Chiefs returned home last Thursday night for their last regular season match against the Myrtle Beach Lady Seahawks. They beat their rival 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-22) and clinched the region VI 5A championship with that win. Myrtle Beach finished the year 8-2, the only two losses to the Chiefs.

Loeswick and Cloninger each had 12 kills and Madison Johnson had 10 kills. Loeswick also had 22 digs in the match with Cloninger and Powers adding 12 each.

Last Friday the Chiefs traveled to the Wando Invitational Tournament. They opened play on Friday with two wins. First they beat Lucy Beckham 2-1 (18-25, 25-20, 15-10). Loeswick had 9 kills and Cloninger 6 kills in the win.

They ended the evening with a 2-0 win over Bishop England (25-17, 25-16).

Saturday opened with a 2-0 (25-13, 25-14) victory over Ashley Hall. Then the competition got a little tougher. The Chiefs beat a good River Bluff team 2-1 (22-25, 25-21, 15-11).

They lost their next match to Nation Ford 0-2 (21-25, 22-25). They finished their tournament with a loss to Wando 0-2 (32-34, 14-25). Wando lost to Nation Ford in the final match of the tournament.

The Lady Chiefs have a 32-5 record as they play their final regular season match tonight at Lucy Beckham, before beginning the playoffs next week.