Hoggard takes down reigning champion Topsail 3-1
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — In a matchup both sides looked forward to for a while, hosting Hoggard got the better of Topsail 3-1 on the volleyball court Thursday.
The set scores were 23-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-14.
The Pirates took the first set by the narrowest of margins before the Vikings rallied and never looked back, dominating their rivals from their on.
Topsail won the then-Mideastern Conference in 2024 with a single loss, which was to Hoggard. However, the Pirates beat the Vikings twice to win the title.
Hoggard’s players feel Thursday’s match showed a shift in power for what is now the Carolina Coast Conference.
“After the first set, we just had to play like we know how to play,” junior Ellie Keene said. “We had to dominate like we know we can. We’re the better team overall and we all know that. So we just had to show out and play our game. I think it’s just going to make us want to push even harder. Keep that first place spot. Everybody’s going to come for us, so we just have to keep winning. That’s our goal.”
“I just think we started finding the court better,” senior Rylee Howard said. “We came out, we swung really hard, but we weren’t expecting the to pick up our swings like they were. So we just came out and started trying to hit shots, get them out of system and bring in our hitting. We always come in thinking we’re the best. That’s just how you have to be, but winning that game definitely gave us that solidification.”
