Still queens of the Quad County

Only an epic collapse could prevent Hunt High from being proclaimed the undisputed regular season and tournament varsity volleyball champion for the third consecutive year in the 3-year-old 3-A Quad County Conference.

With the top-seeded Warriors victorious in the first two sets of Wednesday evening's tourney championship match in the Hunt gym, the collapse possibility crossed the minds of onlookers as No. 3 West Johnston pulled out a 26-24 squeaker in the third set and poured to a 9-0 start in set 4. But a beyond-epic comeback in the fourth set left the drama-inclined Warriors to reign as the only regular-season and tournament queen in the league's young history.

The 25-22 outcome in a fourth set, that brought the small crowd to life, climaxed a 25-23, 25-14, 24-26, 25-22 triumph for the Warriors. Hunt enters the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs Saturday with a home match, riding a nine-match winning streak and with a 16-8 record. The Wildcats, which split the two regular-season matches with Hunt, hope for a first-round home playoff contest with a 15-8 mark.

Senior outside hitter Gracelynn Wolzen notched the match-ending point for the third time in the last four outings. Her well-struck kill left 5-foot-10 Wildcats senior Kristin Dodd in a seated position – with the ball at her feet.

"She's got a knack for that," first-year Hunt head coach Matt Lemmons said of Wolzen's feat.

"I've got girls that have overcome adversity a lot this year," exclaimed the beaming Lemmons. "They have been in a lot of deficits, but this was the biggest one when we've come back and won."

"I was a little doubtful myself," standout junior Presley Frazier commented of Hunt's chances of coming back. "We had a pretty bad start – the worst we've had. We took it point-by-point and eventually got even. We won it! I am very proud of how we played. We came ready to play."

The Warriors benefited from a time-out – when Lemmons told them: "Just win the 3-2 battles (in points) and we can come back and win this game. Every since we played at (league foe) Southern Wayne (five-set win), we have been clutch.

"The first set was good. The second set was wonderful – the most complete set we've played all year. But I don't know what happened between the last part of the third set and the first part of the fourth set."

That's when Hunt answered the rejuvenated Wildcats as if competing in an unfamiliar sport. Errors upon errors piled up. But it wasn't too late for a Hunt turnaround.

"We got focused," explained 5-10 junior middle hitter Kayla Battle. "We got the energy up and were more excited."

Lemmons praised Battle, who was sidelined a month with an ankle injury, for her best performance.

"It probably was," responded Battle, who was key up front with her hitting and blocking. "My hitting improved a little bit and I am more proud of that.

"We knew (West Johnston) could definitely come back – and they did. Both teams worked hard. The ankle still hurts, but I have started playing harder. I was a little scared. But I wanted to play even harder today and let it loose."

Wildcats senior Taylor Williams served for an ace to open the third set. But Frazier's ace helped Hunt and a point at the net from senior Amara Barnes staked Hunt to a 7-6 edge. Senior Kamryn Phaby contributed a block as the Warriors stretched the lead to 16-12. After three ties, the Wildcats, powered by seven kills in the set from unstoppable senior Emma Schwarting, finally seized the lead at 23-22 on a Hunt service error.

Despite kills from Wolzen and junior Paige Mathews that resulted in a 24-24 standoff, the Wildcats emerged the set winner courtesy of two Hunt errors.

Hunt was besieged by errors and Williams' serving to start the fourth set. West Johnston did not resemble a weary team that had played four consecutive five-setters, including a three-hour marathon at archrival South Johnston on Tuesday.

Frazier's tip finally pulled Hunt even at 15-15. But the Warriors never led until, with the score knotted at 20-20, Wolzen surfaced for three consecutive kills. The Wildcats managed two more points before Wolzen's blast ended it.

"We were gassed and completely fatigued," summarized West Johnston head coach Jason McArtan. "We could have played better, but we had mental errors and missed serves. A point here and a point there broke down the match."

The Wildcats were hindered the final set in that Schwarting never returned to the rotation until Hunt needed only two more points. West Johnston was also without top hitter Theresa Webb, a 6-foot senior, for the fourth straight match.

"It's just the rotation we had," McArtan noted of Schwarting's plight. "She's our MVP.

"But (Hunt) is a good volleyball team. There was no doubt in my mind that they could come back. Volleyball is a mental game. I would have honestly liked to have played a home game (in the tournament), but this was just another game for them. I am super proud of these girls."

Schwarting and Dodd each knocked down 11 kills for the Wildcats and freshman Amaya Brayboy had four in the early going.

For Hunt, Frazier turned in another sensational performance with 22 kills, three blocks, two aces and eight digs. Wolzen collected 18 kills and 11 digs. Battle wound up with seven kills and five blocks. Senior setter Jolie Sogluizzo set the pace with 48 assists and also had two aces. Senior setter Lanie Johnson was tops with 19 digs and added six assists. Mathews posted 11 digs and three blocks. Senior Paris Jones served for crucial points in the final set. Said Lemmons: "Amara came up big"

After an ace from West Johnston senior Olivia Greene, Hunt took over the first set, building a 24-19 cushion behind Frazier and Battle before Frazier's tip sealed the set win for Hunt.

The Warriors couldn't be stopped in a dandy second set, bolting to a 6-1 margin and forcing a Wildcats' time-out. Battle was a force, and Mathews proved effective at the net. The Warriors finally committed their first of four service errors late in the set.

"We like to keep it fun," the grinning Lemmons joked about his Warriors' unpredictable tendencies. "But they got it done.

"Overall, what a regular season and tournament! Yesterday after we won (against C.B. Aycock in the semifinals), I said I was happy. Today, I'm not just happy; I'm thrilled!"