2014 Roxboro Community School volleyball team commemorative section by Kelly P. Snow

the courier-times | roxboro, Nc

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Ryann Tate

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Peyton

Kelsie Holt

Thornburg

Senior 5-10 Middle Hitter

Senior 5-6 Setter

Honorable Mention all-ConferenCe Season High Stats

My three best Memories from this Season

A game point when Garrison got the set and I yelled “finish it” and she did Having my best ever against Voyager Senior Night

My favorite Memory off the Court

Senior 5-8 outSide Hitter

Honorable Mention all-ConferenCe Season High Stats

Kills: 13 (9/26 Voyager Academy) Aces: 2 (10/2 River Mill Academy) Blocks: 5 (three times) Digs: 3 (10/23 Lincoln Charter)

The team cookout at Hawkins’ Farm and we went to a haunted house at RCS afterwards

sAturDAY, Nov. 8, 2014

SeCond teaM all-ConferenCe Season High Stats

Kills: 4 (8/26 Franklin Academy) Aces: 10 (9/2 Woods Charter) Blocks: 10 (9/2 Woods Charter) Digs: 2 (8/26 Franklin Academy) Assists: 16 (8/26 Franklin Academy)

Kills: 14 (10/23 Lincoln Charter) Aces: 5 (three times) Blocks: 3 (9/16 and 9/26 Voyager Academy Digs: 14 (10/23 Lincoln Charter) Assists: 2 (10/14 Research Triangle, 10/21 Alleghany)

My three best Memories from this Season

Beating Voyager Academy, Kailey blocking Megan Harris Winning 25-0 against Kestrel Heights My sister receiving Player of the Year

My three best Memories from this Season

My favorite Memory off the Court

The team cookout at the end of the season to celebrate

Beating Voyager and Person Being conference champions Going undefeated

My favorite Memory off the Court

Bonding time at dinner and the team cookout

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the courier-times | roxboro, Nc

16 Kelsey Cole

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Garrison Bowes

Senior 5-8 middle Season High Stats

Kills: 9 (10/23 Lincoln Charter) Aces: 5 (9/2 Woods Charter, 10/14 Research Triangle) Blocks: 5 (9/16 Voyager Academy) Digs: 18 (10/23 Lincoln Charter)

Kailey Oakley

Junior 5-7 OUTSide HiTTeR

Honorable Mention all-ConferenCe

sAturDAY, Nov. 8, 2014

Sophomore 5-9 RiGHT Side

firSt teaM all-ConferenCe Season High Stats

Kills: 23 (10/21 Alleghany) Aces: 14 (10/18 Pine Lake Prep) Blocks: 3 (10/23 Lincoln Charter) Digs: 20 (10/23 Lincoln Charter)

Season High Stats

Kills: 8 (10/18 Pine Lake Prep) Blocks: 3 (10/21 Alleghany) Digs: 2 (10/23 Lincoln Charter)

My three best Memories from this Season:

My three best Memories from this Season

My favorite Memory off the Court

Being undefeated Beating Person When we found out we were conference champions Team bonding because we stayed up all night and I went to work off of two hours of sleep

The feeling of defeating Voyager Academy Almost knocking the line judge out The energy on the court while playing Voyager When we had team bonding and Kenzi and I stayed up all night

Congratulations

RCS LADY BULLDOG

Beating Voyager Academy Being undefeated Beating Kestrel Heights 25-0 The team bonding sleepover

Way to Go RCS Bulldogs!

Volleyball

#12

Brenna Winstead

Kelsie Leigh Holt

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We have watched you grow from a little girl playing volleyball to a beautiful young lady playing volleyball. Every minute has been a joy! We are so proud of you Kelsie Leigh and look forward to seeing what God has planned next for you! We love you with all our hearts! Love, Dad, Mom, Paw Paw, Maw Maw and Brooks Jeremiah 29:11

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Taylor Winstead

Mackenzi Thornburg

Sophomore 5-5 DefenSive SpecialiSt

freshman 5-7 Setter Season High Stats

Kills: 2 (9/18 Kestrel Heights) Aces: 3 (9/4 River Mill Academy) Digs: 6 (9/4 River Mill Academy)

My Three Best Memories From This Season

A practice I had during the season. Another memory would be when we defeated Voyager Academy in its own gym One of my best memories would be when we finally beat Person High School

My Favorite Memory Off The Court

My favorite memory off the court would be our first team bonding when we were outside lighting sparklers

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Camryn Black freshman 5-4 DefenSive SpecialiSt

NCAC PlAyer OF THe yeAr FirST TeAM All-CONFereNCe Season High Stats

Season High Stats

Kills: 7 (10/21 Alleghany) Aces: 16 (9/30 Woods Charter) Blocks: 14 (9/8 Person) Digs: 18 (10/21 Alleghany) Assists: 37 (10/21 Alleghany)

Aces: 5 (9/30 Woods Charter) Digs: 10 (10/23 Lincoln Charter)

My Three Best Memories From This Season Beating Voyager and Person in the same season Getting to be a part of a big, loviing family Being undefeated conference champions

My Three Best Memories From This Season The winning point of the Voyager game Beating Person for the first time ever When we beat Kestrel Heights 25-0

My Favorite Memory Off the Court

My Favorite Memory Off The Court

The BBQ get together at Hawkins Farm and the team bondings we had, sleepover and Vesuvio’s dinner

to the

RCS Bulldogs!

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Hannah Hawkins

Jordan Taylor

Freshman 5-5 DeFensive specialist

Freshman 5-8 MiDDle Blocker

Kills: 1 (three times) Aces: 9 (9/30 Woods Charter) Digs: 6 (9/16 Voyager Academy) Assists: 5 (10/2 River Mill Academy)

My Three Best Memories From This Season

Beating Voyager Academy Winning against Person for the first time ever Just the whole experience of being undefeated was a really good feeling

My Favorite Memory Off The Court

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roxBoro coMMunity school varsity volleyBall

Season High Stats

Kills: 4 (9/18 Kestrel Heights) Aces: 1 (9/4 River Mill Academy) Digs: 1 (9/22 Northern Durham) Assists: 1 (9/30 Woods Charter)

My Three Best Memories From This Season

The last point and the celebration after the Person game My first hit of the season and the look on Kenzi’s face when I hit it. The first playoff game and how hard we worked and when I went in for Ryann for a point.

I think my favorite memory off the court was at the cookout

sAturDAY, Nov. 8, 2014

My Favorite Memory Off The Court The cookout at the Hawkins’ house

8.18 8.21 8.26 8.28 9.2 9.4 9.8 9.9 9.11 9.15 9.16 9.18 9.22 9.23 9.26 9.30 10.2 10.6 10.9 10.13 10.14 10.18 10.21 10.23

at Northern Durham Kestrel Heights at Franklin Academy at Granville Central at Woods Charter River Mill Academy at Person East Wake Academy at Raleigh Charter at Research Triangle Voyager Academy at Kestrel Heights Northern Durham Franklin Academy at Voyager Academy Woods Charter at River Mill Academy Granville Central Raleigh Charter at East Wake Academy Research Triangle First Round 1-A Playoffs Pine Lake Prep Second Round 1-A Playoffs Alleghany Third Round 1-A Playoffs Lincoln Charter

W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-1 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-2 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-0 W 3-2 L 2-3

#BulldogStrong Congratulations Bulldogs on your perfect season!

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The team cookout at Hawkins Farm

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Garrison Bowes!

Season High Stats

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Way to go,

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#12 Brenna Winstead

400 S. Madison Blvd., Roxboro, NC

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Congrats, Bulldogs!

#2 Camryn Black Camryn, We are so proud of your accomplishments and determination. We Love You! Mom, Jimmy Baylee Dad. Monica Samantha Pop Nana Joe Pa Granny

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SAtuRDAY, Nov. 8, 2014

Bulldogs’ season in review Sept. 8 Bulldogs take down Rockets The Roxboro Community School volleyball team was leading, but teetering big time. The Bulldogs had just dropped their first set of the season, saw their senior All-Conference setter get carried out of the gym and Person was pouncing on its wounded in-county rival. But RCS regrouped and found a way to hang on for 3-1 (25-20, 25-17, 10-25, 25-22) victory Monday night in front of a loud and energetic crowd at Rocket Gym. The victory was the 1-A North Central Athletic Conference member’s first-ever win against its 4-A neighbor. “I didn’t want to graduate without beating them,” RCS senior outside hitter Kelsie Holt said. “We’ve played them every year and they’re a great team and it’s always good competition. (Person) always makes me want to get better and play better. This was just a great experience.” Holt made her final swings against Person memorable. With the Bulldogs clinging to a slim 23-22 in the fourth set after two consecutive Person points, Holt took sets from freshman Mackenzi Thornburg and buried back-to-back kills to clinch the victory. Her final kill was initially dug up, but never made it back across the net. Holt finished with a team-high 11 kills with seven digs. The Bulldogs played most of the final two sets without four-year starting setter Peyton Thornburg who left after an apparent foot injury with Person leading 9-4 in the third. Her younger sister, Mackenzi, who has

experience setting at the club level, became the team’s primary setter for the final two sets. Peyton Thornburg was helped out of the gym after the conclusion of the Rockets’ 22-10 third-set victory. “Before the beginning of the (fourth) game, I told the team that we were one family and we have to stick together,” Holt said. “Peyton is such a huge asset to our team and there was no doubt that we were going to win this for her.” The Rockets certainly did not make it easy for RCS. Person roared back after dropping the first two sets, and dominated the third. The Rockets raced out to a 9-4 lead after a pair of kills from freshman Avery Bowman, and closed the set in emphatic fashion, winning 11 of the final 12 points, the last coming on a Katie Slaughter kill. “The third game obviously was by far our best game,” Person coach Amanda Ramirez said. “Everything came together. We were blocking. We were serving aggressively and just playinge every ball like it was the last ball they were ever going to touch.” The Rockets trailed by as many as four three times early in the fourth set, but continued to battle back. They tied the game at 16 after Jada McGhee’s soft roll shot found the Bulldogs’ side of the floor. RCS responded with a 5-1 spurt keyed by its two big hitters. Holt won two points on serve, and Garrison Bowes had a pair of kills, including one that bounced off the block of a pair of Rockets’ on fell just out, lifting RCS to a 20-17 advantage. Senior Kelsey Cole followed with a service winner to force a Rocket timeout. The Rockets had one last rally in

Stories and pictures by Kelly Snow — Courier-Times

Setter Mackenzi Thornburg looks to set up middle hitter Ryann Tate for a quick kill during the match at Person.

them, and won five of the next seven points to slice the RCS lead to 23-22, highlighted by a kill from Goodwin after a dazzling dig from libero Kara Wilkerson. Holt finished off the match with a couple of kills to ignite a huge celebration. The Bulldogs had to dig into their bench to finish off the Rockets. After Thornburg’s injury, RCS coach Meagan Tatum inserted Kailey Oakley into the front line and used the combination of Hannah Hawkins and Taylor Winstead in the back row. Middle blocker Ryann Tate came through with a solid serve on match

point — after being subbed out on every previous rotation in the match when it was her turn to serve. “They believe in their skill and are a very strong team,” Tatum said. “We don’t have six stars and a bench. We have 12 girls who are ready to go at any time and they showed that and I’m so proud of them.” The Bulldogs service game controlled much of the opening two sets. Mackenzi Thornburg hammered four of her team-high eight aces in the opening two sets with libero Camryn Black and Garrison Bowes combining for five more. RCS had countless more service winners and

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thE COuRiER-timES | ROxBORO, NC

Bulldogs’ season in review took advantage of several Person receiving errors. “That was our plan,” Tatum said. “We have a big serving team and our receivers did a great job too. We were able to find some spots and keep them out of system and we were able to control our side. They did a great job of that.” Person drastically improved its receiving game in the final two sets and held RCS scoreless on Mackenzi Thornburg’s serve. “Mackenzi has a nasty topspin serve,” Ramirez said. “You can’t stand at almost the back line and expect to return it, because it drops. We were standing way too deep. When I would call timeout, I’d tell them to step up because we were too deep. With the topspin, you think it’s going one place, but it drops and you have to be ready for it. I thought we did better and played behind every other serve.”

Sept. 11 ‘Dogs remain unbeaten, blast state-finalist Raleigh Charter in three sets MORRISVILLE — It took a little over an hour for the Roxboro Community School volleyball team to lay waste to one of last year’s state finalists. The Bulldogs trounced reigning North Central Athletic Conference champion Raleigh Charter 25-15, 257, 25-15 Thursday at Triangle Volleyball Club in Morrisville. RCS (9-0 overall, 6-0 NCAC) hammered the Phoenix without senior setter Peyton Thornburg, who will likely be out until the final week of

We are so Proud of you

the regular season after suffering a foot injury in Monday’s 3-1 victory against Person. The older of the Bulldogs’ Thornburgs was supporting from the bench for all of the match, while her freshman Mackenzi Thornburg took over as the team’s setter. Mackenzi Thornburg finished with 28 assists, and was dominant from the serving line, belting six aces. The team’s co-captain as a freshman won 10 consecutive points on serve at the start of the second set, with seven of those serves never making it back across the net. “We’re still ironing out the kinks,” RCS coach Meagan Tatum said. “Mackenzi’s doing a great job covering and setting all around the court and with the leadership that comes with setting. I think she’s speeding up the process. She’s clicking with all of her hitters right now and everyone’s stepping up emotionally so we can recover.” The Phoenix were also without a key member of their team. Junior libero Grace Irvin missed Thursday’s match with a pulled quad. Irvin, an N.C. State recruit, is one of Raleigh Charter’s main service receivers. RCS took full advantage, with 14 aces and countless more serves that were too hot for Phoenix players to handle. “It’s definitely exciting for the girls to take care of it,” Tatum said. “We were down one of our best players and another really good player and they were down one their best players. We’ll take the win, but we know we have to be prepared for the second time we see them, because it will be harder the second time through the conference.” The Bulldogs held huge leads throughout each of the three sets. Garrison Bowes finished with nine kills, nine digs and three aces, while

Hannah Love, Mom, Dad, Chandler & Grace

The Bulldogs celebrate their first-ever victory against cross-county rival Person early in the season.

Kelsie Holt chipped in seven kills with five digs. Middle hitters Kelsey Cole and Ryann Tate finished with three kills each. Jordan Taylor chipped in a kill, while Hannah Hawkins belted a pair of aces. “Right now, we’re just trying to establish more depth since we have our two players out for now,” Tatum said. “We’re still trying to make up for the emotional gap with Peyton on the bench, but the girls are really trying to make up for it and get our groove back. It’s still so nice to have her here because she has very high expectations for this team with or without her on the court.” The Bulldogs have yet to surrender a set in NCAC play heading into the final week of the first half of the regular season. Match time is set for 6 p.m. The Vikings are 10-1 overall, with their only loss coming against reigning PAC-6 champion Riverside. Voyager edged Raleigh Charter in five

Garrison Bowes We are very proud of you and your team. Congratulations on an awesome year! Love, Your Family

sets earlier in the season. The Vikings won all three meetings between the teams last season, including a five-set thriller in the third round of the 1-A state playoffs. “We’re very excited,” Tatum said of playing Voyager. “We need to get Logan Redd ready for that block because they’ve got a huge outside hitter and we have to make sure that we take care of our serve so it makes it harder for them to get set up. We just have to control our side and do what we’re best at, which is playing together and our serve-receive.”

Sept. 16 Bulldogs make statement, sweep Voyager Academy Three-hundred and twenty seven days. The Roxboro Community School volleyball team waited 327 days to get

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Bulldogs’ season in review on the court with North Central Athletic Conference rival Voyager Academy. The Bulldogs have had Tuesday’s date circled on the calendar since the schedule came out, looking to get a little slice of revenge after last year’s five-set heartbreaker in the thirdround of the 1-A state playoffs — and the other two hard-fought losses. After all that waiting, RCS made quick, emphatic work of the Vikings, winning in three sets (25-21, 25-11, 2523) Tuesday in steamy Helena Gym. The Bulldogs stretched their undefeated record to 11-0 and claimed sole possession of the NCAC lead at 8-0. Voyager dropped to 10-2, and lost its first NCAC game of the season. The teams will meet again next Friday at Voyager. “We have been planning for this game since last October,” RCS coach Meagan Tatum said. “The girls have been working all season to get ready for this. All of our hitters were ready to be a huge part of our offense. Our serve-receivers were focusing on getting the balls up so we could run a great offense and everyone played such a huge part. This was a lot of fun, and the girls really wanted this more than anything this season.” The Bulldogs will enter the second half of the conference season without surrendering a set to NCAC competition, including a sweep of last year’s conference champion Raleigh Charter last week. RCS is one of just four 1-A teams in the state with unbeaten records and is on track to have the best season in the program’s brief history. “We want people to understand that we’re here and mean business,” Tatum said. “We’re so focused this season and the girls want to make a run. They’re out there doing their

Freshman defensive specialist Hannah Hawkins digs up a Raleigh Charter spike.

jobs and taking care of things in three sets.” The Bulldogs got huge performances from all around the court, led by Garrison Bowes. The junior outside hitter finished with a teamhigh 14 kills to go along with seven digs and four aces. Kelsie Holt belted six kills and added a block and a dig. The tandem had big nights despite facing blocks from bigger Viking front row players. “They keep swinging,” Tatum said. “Garrison had some great swings. You saw here against Person, she’s not afraid of a block. We’re not distracted by hands over the net. We were looking to use those hands and find holes. Height is nice, but my little girls are jumping high and doing a great job.” Middle blockers Kelsey Cole, Ryann Tate and Logan Redd combined for nine blocks, and were focusing on

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Voyager’s biggest hitter, junior Megan Harris. The explosive 6-foot-plus outside hitter had plenty of highlightreel kills, but was kept in check for most of the match. “Our blockers did a great job tonight,” Tatum said. “We let them have their big swings, but we tried to make it hard on (Harris). It all starts with our serves. We missed a few more than we usually do, but it was because they wanted to keep their hitters out of system and make their setter move and make it tougher for (Harris) to get the ball every single time. When the set was there, it was down.” The Bulldogs were able to gradually pull away in the opening set after seven ties early on. RCS carried that momentum into the second and put the Vikings away early, with a 17-5 spurt spearheaded by aces from freshman Hannah Hawkins and Bowes.

The Bulldogs got off to another fast start in the third, racing out to an 8-1 lead after a three-point spurt that included a kill and a block by Tate, and a Bowes ace. The Vikings clawed their way back into the set, and eventually tied it up at 15-15 after a pair of Bulldog errors. The teams went back and forth until the Bulldogs were able to put the match away on a Voyager setting miscue on match point. Mackenzi Thornburg had another big night for the Bulldogs, with 26 assists and three kills, including two on one-and-one duels at the net. The freshman was also a factor in double-blocking Harris for most of the match. “We’re asking a lot of her and she’s definitely up for the challenge,” Tatum said. “She’s leading these girls. It’s hard to call her a freshman anymore. She’s such a mature young lady and athlete. She’s running the court the way she wants to. She’s getting it done.” The freshman has been the team’s primary setter since a foot injury to her older sister, Peyton Thornburg, in the third set of last Monday’s win at Person. Peyton, a senior co-captain, will have season-ending surgery on her foot later this week. The senior was a four-year starting setter for the Bulldogs and a multiple time All-Conference player. She sat on the bench during the match, and her teammates embraced her and shed tears following Tuesday’s victory. “Garrison said it in the huddle, we’re going all the way for Peyton,” Tatum said. The Bulldogs opened the week Monday with a comfortable 3-0 (25-

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Bulldogs’ season in review 12, 25-6, 25-9) rout of Research Triangle High.

Sept. 26 Bulldogs rally past Voyager in five-set thriller DURHAM — The last time the Roxboro Community School volleyball team walked off the floor at Voyager Academy, there were a lot of sad, dejected faces after a crushing five-set loss in the third-round of the 1-A state playoffs. This trip ended so much better. The Bulldogs rallied from a 2-1 hole to knock off the Vikings in a five-set thriller Friday night. RCS tied the match by winning the fourth 25-22 and put the victory on ice with a 15-12 triumph in the fifth and deciding set. The victory stretches the Bulldogs’ unbeaten record to 15-0 with five matches remaining on the schedule — all against North Central Athletic Conference competition. RCS swept the season series with Voyager, and holds a two-game lead on top of the conference standings and the tiebreaker over the Vikings. “I’m very proud of how the girls fought all through the entire match, and how they are still undefeated in matches,” RCS coach Meagan Tatum said. “We have a lot to work on to maintain that record, but I am very proud of them.” The Bulldogs got off to an uncharacteristic slow start as it dropped the first set 25-18. It was the first time all

season RCS has lost the opening set of the match. The team’s usually outstanding serving was off, especially in the first set and the Vikings, still stinging from the loss to the Bulldogs just last week took advantage. RCS battled back to take the second set 25-21, but Voyager responded by winning the third 25-22. “The game was very well thought on both sides of the court,” Tatum said. “We had a lot of girls who were on and off at different times so it wasn’t our best game, but a few players stepped up and just took control and ran with it.” Garrison Bowes had another outstanding night for the Bulldogs, finishing with a team-high 17 kills with nine digs. Kelsey Cole chipped in five kills, 11 digs and two blocks, while Taylor Winstead and Hannah Hawkins added two digs each. Camryn Black added three digs. “Kelsey Cole played all around the court the entire match very level headed and aggressive,” Tatum said. “The middles really stepped up tonight and it was a game-changer.” Middle hitter Ryann Tate had one of the best nights of her career with 13 kills and six blocks. Freshman setter Mackenzi Thornburg had a pair of kills to go along with 34 assists and four blocks. Senior Kelsie Holt had a strong defensive game with five digs and three blocks. “Ryann had an outstanding performance. Everything she touched, she made work and Mackenzi found ways to get her the ball the entire game,” Tatum said. “Mackenzi showed tre-

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Bulldogs’ season in review Roxboro Community School freshman setter Mackenzi Thornburg slams the ball over a Voyager Academy blocker during the first meeting of the season between the two longtime rivals. Thornburg started the season as an outside hitter, but moved to setter and was named the North Central Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

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MONDAY: Hot Dogs All the Way $1 TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY: 2 Hot Dogs All the Way $3 THURSDAY: Hamburger or Cheeseburger, Carolina Style or Traditional $1.87 ALL DAY FRIDAY & SATURDAY 5 DIFFERENT COMBOS $5 (Hot Dog, Cheeseburger, Chuckwagon, 4 Wing or Fish Sandwich Combo. Includes fries & drink) Camryn, There are not enough words to let you know how very proud I am of you and all of your accomplishments. You have made me so proud and happy to be your Nana; and even though you are growing up to be a beautiful young lady, you will always be Nana’s little angel. I thank God for you and all that you have become. I pray that God will continue to guide you throughout the rest of your life. You were an awesome team player and I am so proud of you and the rest of the RCS Varsity Volley Ball Team. What a great group of girls to be a part of your freshman year. Can’t wait to see what ya’ll can do next year! Way to go Bulldogs!! Love you always, Nana

mendous leadership tonight — the best I’ve seen by far.” Voyager’s big outside hitter Megan Harris carried her team offensively with 26 kills on 48 attempts. Maggie Liller finished with 12 kills, while Hayley Schadt added nine. “Voyager did a much better job spreading it out on the offense, but they still found Megan as much as possible and our girls were not getting it up as well as they were in the first (match),” Tatum said. “Our block was trying to help, but she was prepared and doing a great job heading in the right spots.”

Oct. 9 Conference champions: RCS sweeps Raleigh Charter to clinch NCAC title TIMBERLAKE — Roxboro Community School volleyball coach Meagan Tatum had to check one more time after Thursday’s match to make sure what she thought just happened actually did. It did indeed. Her Bulldogs had in fact clinched the program’s first-ever North Central Athletic Conference title with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-17, 25-16) victory against last year’s league champion, Raleigh Charter, Thursday at Helena Gym. The win stretched Roxboro Community School’s undefeated record to 19-0 and 14-0 in NCAC play with two matches remaining. RCS has a twogame lead over second-place Voyager Academy (19-3 overall, 13-2 NCAC) and holds the tiebreaker after sweeping both meetings with the Vikings. “Everyone knows that different

Peyton Thornburg, Kenley Long & Mackenzi Thornburg Your hard work and dedication has paid off. Congratulations on a successful season! We Love You, Mema & Papa Rudy

classes rotate out, not that this was any easier, but we were fortunate to have some freshmen to come up who were ready to play with the girls that were already here,” Tatum said. “They did a great job in the offseason to make sure that this season happened. It’s their hard work, not just starting in August. Their dedication to this sport brought them here. We didn’t get handed this by any means. They worked so hard and deserve to celebrate and be excited about this.” The Bulldogs will get the conference’s top-seed in the 1-A playoffs, and are still in line to be the top overall seed in either the east or west regionals if they can finish off the season undefeated. RCS will travel to East Wake Academy (11-8, 6-8) Monday before wrapping up its regular season Tuesday against Research Triangle (11-10, 7-8) for the team’s senior night. The Bulldogs swept both teams earlier in the season, but Tatum understands the importance of finishing off the regular season strong heading into the playoffs. “This was good to come out knowing we’ve won the (conference), but we’ve still got those two very important conference games,” Tatum said. “I’m thrilled and the girls deserve to be excited about how they’ve played all season. They’ve definitely earned this championship.” The Bulldogs clinched the championship by taking down the reigning champs and one of last year’s state finalists. The Phoenix raced out to a quick 4-1 lead in the opening set off the serve of N.C. State recruit Grace Irvin, who was injured the first time these teams met this season. The Bulldogs immediately responded by winning nine of the next

Kelsie Holt skies for a kill during the first meeting of the season against Voyager

11 points, with middle hitter Kelsey Cole doing much of the damage with three kills during that spurt. RCS overwhelmed the reigning East region champs and rolled to an easy 25-12 first set victory, with Kelsie Holt putting the finishing touches on the win with a huge kill. The second set was much closer until the Bulldogs took control midway through. RCS held a slim 10-8 lead, but was forced to take a timeout after outside hitter Garrison Bowes cut her arm following a kill. She came back in the game, wear-

ing the number of injured teammate Peyton Thornburg, and ripped off a pair of kills during a 6-0 run to push the Bulldogs advantage to 15-8. RCS led by at least four points for the remainder of the set and finished it off with a Hannah Hawkins back-row kill after a long rally. The Bulldogs raced out a quick 5-0 lead in the third behind the serve of Mackenzi Thornburg and kills from Cole, Holt, Bowes and Logan Redd. They went on an 8-0 spurt late in the set and cruised to a comfortable match-clinching victory.

What an awesome season, thanks for all your dedication Coach Meagan!!!

Love, Hannah Hawkins

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Bulldogs’ season in review Bowes led the Bulldogs’ balanced attack with 12 kills, five aces, and 13 digs. Holt had a strong all-around match with 10 kills, two blocks and eight digs, while Ryann Tate finished with six kills and a block. Cole chipped in seven kills and five digs, while Kailey Oakley finished with a kill. Freshman Hannah Hawkins came off the bench and hammered three aces, while setter Mackenzi Thornburg finished with two kills and four aces. The Bulldogs were all decked out in pink in support of the DigPink Sideout Foundation’s breast cancer awareness campaign. The team raised more than $600 for the cause and played in front of a packed house at Helena with most of the fans wearing pink. “It was wonderful,” Tatum said. “We’ve been advertising that we’re raising money for the DigPink Sideout Foundation breast cancer awareness. The success was tremendous. We were playing for something a little bit bigger than ourselves. It’s nice to get things put back into perspective. Everyone was here cheering them on and we were here fighting for multiple things.”

Oct. 14 Undefeated Bulldogs: RCS blanks Research Triangle to wrap up perfect regular season TIMBERLAKE — The Roxboro Community School volleyball team wasted very little time in starting its dual celebration Tuesday night. The Bulldogs finished off an undefeated regular season with a 3-0 (25-5,

25-15, 25-10) rout of Research Triangle on their senior night. This was easily the best regular season in the program’s brief history and RCS will enter the 1-A state playoffs with a 21-0 record and as the North Central Athletic Conference champions. The Bulldogs lost just three sets the entire regular season. “It’s a huge accomplishment to have a conference championship season, but for us to have an undefeated season was just unbelievable,” RCS coach Meagan Tatum said. “The girls are working just so hard. I give them a new goal that they need to accomplish and they just do it together. I haven’t seen our teamwork or chemistry break down once. Everything they’re doing is working because they’re donig it together and it makes it so much easier to be successful.” The Bulldogs honored their four seniors, outside hitter Kelsie Holt, middles Kelsey Cole and Ryann Tate, along with injured setter Peyton Thornburg. All four have been with Tatum all three years that she’s coached the Bulldogs. “This is just a special team and the seniors have a huge chunk of the character that we have on our team and it will be hard to see them go,” Tatum said. “That’s why we’re telling our girls that we have to go as far and as long as we can because we’ll never have this team again and it’s special.” Holt, Cole and Tate all celebrated their senior night by playing a great deal, while Thornburg could only watch. The Bulldogs’ four-year starter at setter has been sidelined since breaking her foot in the Sept. 8 match against Person, but has remained a vital part of the team as a de facto assistant coach. “Peyton has been my steady since I got here,” Tatum said. “Having her out is awful, but she’s owning a differ-

Hannah & Grace Hawkins

Proud of all the RCS Volleyball teams. Especially Hannah & Grace. You both are awesome! Love, Pops & Mama Z

Senior Kelsey Cole hammers a kill during the Bulldogs’ second meeting of the season against Raleigh Charter.

L E L YBALL O V S C R “It’s a Family Thing” Congratulations to our nieces on an undefeated middle school season!

Kenley Long • Payton Gentry • Kayleigh Gentry

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Congratulations on a Conference Championship Year! GO BULLDOGS! Love, Mom, Dad & Austin

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Bulldogs’ season in review ent leadership role off the court. The girls know that she’s there for them 100-percent. Whatever the girls need from her she give it.” Thornburg had a front-row seat as her teammates throttled the Raptors. The Bulldogs closed the opening set on a 12-0 run behind the serve of Holt to win the first 25-5. They carried over that momentum into the second and raced out a 9-0 lead as freshman Mackenzi Thornburg ripped off five aces during that stretch. Research Triangle stayed close after that but RCS motored to a 25-15 win. The Bulldogs got off to a bit of a slow start in the third, and had their early advantage trimmed to one, 9-8, before erupting on a 15-2 spurt to end the match. Holt had a big night in her final home regular season match with nine kills and nine digs, while Garrison Bowes finished with eight kills, two digs and three aces. Cole belted eight kills with five digs and five aces, while Kailey Oak-

ley and Ryann Tate finished with two kills each. “It’s going to take a great team to give us a run for it,” Tatum said. “I’m looking foward to seeing those teams in the playoffs starting Saturday. It’s going to be a fight. I think the girls have had that goal on their minds of getting to state since day one. Being at home is definitely going to be a huge factor. If (fans are) willing to come out on Saturdays, it’s going to be a great support system. Some teams come in and they’re not ready for that noise. We’ve never had that advantage and we’ll definitely use that.”

Oct. 21 Bulldogs survive in five to down Alleghany in second round TIMBERLAKE — Roxboro Community School volleyball coach Meagan Tatum had one simple, heartfelt

Kailey Oakley So proud to call you daughter. We love you! Mom, Dad, & Caleb

Love, Randy, Christi, Peyton & Mackenzi

Kelsey Cole

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Garrison Bowes digs deep to handle a apike during the Bulldogs’ regular season finale against Research Triangle.

goal for her team as it took the court Tuesday in the second-round of the 1-A state playoffs. “I just asked them to play with all they had and with no regrets whether this was our last game, or the game

before the next one,” Tatum said. It was the latter — and it was a thriller. The Bulldogs’ coach got exactly what she wanted and even a little more as her team walked off the

Peyton & Mackenzi Great job on a wonderful season. We are very proud of you! Love, Dad, Regina, Hunter and Grandma Thornburg

Grey Carver Congratulations on an awesome season. We are so proud of you and your team. We love you! Love, Mom & Dad

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Bulldogs’ season in review court, physically, mentally and emotionally spent, but victorious after rallying past Alleghany 3-2 (16-25, 2519, 18-25, 25-22, 15-10) in a deafening and packed Helena Gym. The come-from-behind victory extended the Bulldogs undefeated record to 23-0 and was just the second time all season they had been pushed to five sets. RCS will host 10th seed Lincoln Charter (18-3) Thursday after the Eagles upset reigning 1-A state champion Boonville Starmount Tuesday. “We’re not done, the girls are still growing and their heart is in it,” Tatum said. “They have so much passion and they’re loving how this community is rallying and cheering them on. They’re just not going to let this end. I think a lot of this is fueling them and they’re pulling more out of each other than they even thought they had. That’s what’s keeping us going.” RCS was able to keep its season alive by surviving a gutty Alleghany squad that made the nearly four-hour long bus ride from Sparta. The much taller Trojans got off to a dominating

start, taking the first set 25-16 behind a quick-setting offense that continually fed middle hitter 6-foot middle hitter Jade Shepherd. Shepherd had five kills in the opening set alone and Alleghany finished off the first by winning six of the final seven points. Both teams battled to keep every ball off the floor, making miraculous saves and digs against each other in many dramatic, long rallies. “I think that was the best team (we’ve played all year),” RCS setter Mackenzi Thornburg said. “They were just scrappy and played everything. I’m so glad we hustled like we did because that team was so good. We had to hustle to win.” The Bulldogs’ perfect season was definitely in peril until the final ball. RCS battled back to tie the match at 1-set all, but dropped the third. Alleghany jumped out to a quick 10-4 advantage and led by at least four for the remainder of the set. The Trojans closed on a 5-1 spurt, helped out by a couple of RCS hitting errors. Alleghany appeared to be in on the verge of finishing the Bulldogs off after jumping out to a 10-6 lead in the

What a great season! So glad you were a part of it! Love you bunches Kenley Long! Mom, Dad & Zack

The Bulldogs unleash their emotions after their five-set victory against Alleghany in the second-round of the state playoffs.

fifth. And then the comeback began. RCS erupted on an 8-1 run, with Garrison Bowes drilling three kills during the spurt. The Trojans trailed 20-16, before fighting back to take a late lead after a Kasey Caudill block on RCS hitter Kelsie Holt. The Trojans were just four points from the third round of the playoffs, but were denied. Kelsie Cole and Holt responded with a pair of kills and stretched the lead to 23-21 following an Alleghany hitting error. Holt put the set away with a kill after another marathon point and followed up with a service winner off the arms of a Trojan receiver to force a deciding set. RCS took control of the fifth quickly behind Thornburg’s serve and three kills by Bowes and held a quick 5-2 advantage. The Bulldogs had a seemingly insurmountable 12-6 lead in the firstto-15 final, but the Trojans had one last rally left. Alleghany won four consecutive

points, to slice the RCS advantage to two, but the Bulldogs’ freshman setter slammed the door on the visitors from Sparta. The return off Allie Wagoner’s serve was a little too deep for Thornburg to set, but at the very last second she turned around and tried to block a kill from Shepherd. Thornburg got just enough to keep the ball in play and Bowes finished off the rally with a cross-court spike that caught the line. The Bulldogs clinched the win with a Cole service winner that ignited a huge celebration on the floor. For Tatum, the rally began when her team realized that it could compete with the bigger Trojans. “They weren’t blocking everything,” Tatum said. “The height was new to them, and it’s something they’re going to have to get used to seeing. When Garrison saw that they weren’t going to block her everytime, she took advantage of that. I didn’t need them to be the other team. I needed them to be my team. They’ve worked so hard on this tough identity

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Hailey Long

and it’s so important that we don’t lose that against a taller team or just because someone’s throwing something different at them. When we’re playing together and doing what we’ve been doing all season, we’re awesome.” Bowes had a huge all-around night for the Bulldogs, finishing with a team-high 23 kills, nine digs and three aces. The junior was a key target during many big moments in the match and came through with a big assist on a broken play late in the second set. “I’m proud that I was looked to so much,” Bowes said. “It’s great that they believe in me so much.” Holt came on late in the match to finish with 13 kills and 11 digs, while Cole delivered seven kills, 10 digs and four blocks. Camryn Black and Hannah Hawkins combined for 10 digs. Thornburg dished out 36 assists and had seven kills with 18 digs. The freshman hammered six aces, including one in the fifth set. “She’s just golden,” Tatum said. “Her defense, everything she touches is up. She was doing so many smart

Kailey Oakley Congratulations on a great season. We’re proud of you! Love, Paw Paw & Charlotte

Kenley Long

Congratulations! So proud of you and your team.

Congratualations Kenley!

Love, Mom, Dad & Karlie

Love, Nana & Papa

Love, Grace Hawkins

SAtuRDAY, NOV. 8, 2014

Bulldogs’ season in review Bulldogs’ season in review

Thanks Coach Steve and Coach Gina!!!

It was a great season!!!

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things and getting the ball to hitters at the right spot and making plays that were there. She’s taking her game to a whole new level for her teammates. She’s a completely selfless player.” Bowes paced RCS in the 25-7, 25-6, 25-11 rout with 10 kills and 14 aces. Kailey Oakley had a big night with eight kills, while Cole, Ryann Tate and Holt finished with six kills each. Thornburg handed out 31 assists and finished with 10 aces.

Oct. 23 Eagles end Bulldogs’ perfect season TIMBERLAKE — The ride came to an end about a week sooner than they hoped. The best season in the brief history of Roxboro Community School volleyball team came to an end with a heart-wrenching 3-2 (25-20, 20-25, 1725, 25-19, 15-11) loss to Lincoln Charter in the third round of the 1-A state playoffs Thursday in a jam-packed

Members of the RCS middle school team try to excite the crowd during the Bulldogs’ second-round playoff game against Alleghany.

and noisy Helena Gym. The Bulldogs finished their season 23-1 after an undefeated regular season that included winning their first North Central Athletic Conference championship. “This went back and forth both ways. Ultimately, (Lincoln Charter) did prevail, but not without our girls giving them a fight. If we’re going out, with these special girls playing their hearts out in this atmosphere, in my book we ended our season on a positive note,” RCS coach Meagan Tatum said. “It would have been nicer to have gone a little farther, but I could not be more proud of these girls and the season we’ve had. Every single one of them contributed, whether they played all six rotations, or challenged them in practice. I just had so much fun enjoying these girls, all the competition, everything.” But the chances were certainly

We are so Proud of you

Grace Love, Mom, Dad, Hannah & Chandler

there for the Bulldogs to advance to today’s West regional semifinals. After four grueling sets, RCS took control early in the fifth after three consecutive kills by middle hitter Kelsey Cole, with her final quick shot lifting the Bulldogs to a 7-4 lead in the first-to-15 finale. The Eagles (19-3) roared back led by outside hitter Bentley Earnest, winning six of the next seven points. The 6-foot-1 freshman had two kills, a block, and an ace that pushed their lead to 10-8. Earnest was one of five Eagle who were 5-10 or taller. RCS rallied to tie the set 11-11 with Mackenzi Thornburg coming up with a huge solo block, but Lincoln Charter finished off the victory by winning four consecutive points. Those final four points came on a push shot that fell just inside the back line, two RCS spikes that landed just inches deep and when a Bull-

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ing, we struggled. That’s our biggest advantage and we lost focus when we had the opportunity. That first game would have been very helpful.” Lincoln appeared on the verge of taking the second set after back-toback aces by Meghan Smith capped off a 6-1 run to push the Eagles to a 1916 advantage. The Bulldogs’ response was led by one of their youngest pups. Hawkins ripped off five consecutive points on serve to ignite a 9-1 run to give RCS the second-set victory. The Bulldogs won the third set comfortably and Lincoln fought back to take the fourth to set up the dramatic final game. The Bulldogs will lose seniors Cole, Holt, Ryann Tate and Peyton Thornburg, who suffered a season-ending foot injury early in the season. Tatum will bring back several key pieces next season, and hopes an influx of talent from the middle-school level will keep her program rolling along. “We had high hopes of where we would end this season, and I think we may have gotten a little ahead of ourselves especially in the west, instead of the east,” Tatum said. “In the three years since I’ve been here I’ve seen so much dedication and growth from the girls. The same thing happened when I was at Person. Girls are getting motivated and their playing club and choose volleyball over other sports and this is what we get. They might not all be playing at the highest level, but all of my girls played some kind of extra volleyball that wasn’t school related. They just want to keep improving and growing so much and that’s a coach’s dream come true.”

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Middle school varsity ‘Dogs winin conference, Bulldogs’ season reviewnever drop a set

Bulldogs’ season in review dog player made contact with the net while attempting a block. “We got a little comfortable,” Tatum said. “As soon as you see that, our serve-receive fell apart. That team was very good about getting those free balls and turning them into kills. Those little things matter and there were a lot of things going around the perimeter of the court and we had a lot of close calls.” Senior Kelsie Holt paced the Bulldogs’ hitting attack with 14 kills and 14 digs in her final high school match. Garrison Bowes had 13 kills and 20 digs, while senior Kelsey Cole finished her career with nine kills, including four in the fifth set, and 18 digs. Thornburg handed out 33 assists with four kills and 12 digs, while freshman Hannah Hawkins hammered five aces. The Bulldogs got off to a blistering start in the opening game, leading 13-7 after a Ryann Tate kill off a quick set. Lincoln Charter rallied to close the set on an 18-7 run, courtesy of eight RCS hitting, passing or communication miscues to steal the first game 25-20. Lincoln’s Heather Hubeli wrapped up the set with two kills and an ace on game-point. “We saw the opening to take the lead and instead of pushing it and putting the pressure on them, we backed off and stopped communicating and that’s not our style,” Tatum said. “We’ve been winning because of the way we work together and once we didn’t have that we fell apart and it was the same thing in serve-receive. When that was lack-

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By Kelly Snow courier-times sports eDitor kellysnow@roxboro-courier.com

Perfect seasons are becoming a rather normal thing for the Roxboro Community School varsity middle school volleyball team. The Bulldogs cruised to another unbeaten record and won their regular season and tournament championships. This group, with seven players returning from last year’s 17-0 team, had its second consecutive undefeated season — this one without dropping a set. RCS had a handful of tight moments, winning a couple of sets at 2523, but kept its record unscathed. “When we saw good serving teams, we had to raise our game,” RCS coach Micholene Schumacher said. “Our perfect season was certainly not without stress. With this group of kids, we have a couple who are so so competitive that they found a way to get wins. They could have locked See VARSITY, Page 23

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Members of the Roxboro Community School varsity middle school team include: front row (left-to-right) Kenley Hazel, Georgia Carver, manager Lily Clayton, Kailey Mangum, Brenna Winstead, Kayleigh Gentry. Back row: Taylor Murray, Baylee Burton, Payton Gentry, Grayson Whitt, Paige Melton, Hailey Long, Kenley Long, Emma Schumacher.

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PEYTON & MACKENZI THORNBURG “The Sister Act”

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Middle school JV Bulldogs roll to undefeated season Kelly Snow courier-times sports eDitor kellysnow@roxboro-courier.com

“HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO DREAM DREAMS AND ARE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE TO MAKE THEM COME TRUE” We are so proud of both of you! Whether on the court or on the sideline, you gave your heart and soul to your team and to each other. We love you, Mom & Randy

First RCS Volleyball conference championship

First RCS Volleyball Player of the Year

First RCS Volleyball Dig Pink Game

Members of the roxboro Community School JV middle school team include: front row (left-to-right) Grace Hawkins, Abby O’Briant, Katie Sanchez, Ashton evans. Middle row: Abby Chandler, Sara Whitt, emma Duncan, Madison Dunkley, Kyleigh Burton, Mariana Alcatraz, lauren Kendrick, Abby Gentry, Grey Carver. Back row: coaches Steve Murray, Gina Mangum.

Some of the best competition the Roxboro Community School JV middle school team saw all year was during their practices — when the team was split into two talented squads. Coaches Gina Mangum and Steve Murray divided their team of middle schoolers into two squads of even talent, with both seeing an almost even amount of court time during matches after competing against each other in practice. According to Murray, there was very little difference between the groups, and combined, they rolled to a perfect 11-0 record. The middle school Bulldogs had a couple of matches they went to a winner-take-all third set, but they always came out on top. For the coaches, the pressure of seeing third sets was good for their young players. “We thought we had two fair teams See JV, Page 23

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Congratulations to our friends and fellow BULLDOGS on a tremendous volleyball season!

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opment in the first four games as a family and a team made this unreal. They’re technical.” “There’s a lot of talent on this team,” Mangum said. “They all get along really well and all mesh together. They’re a good group with no bad attitudes. They were just a joy to coach.” Members of the Bulldogs’ JV middle school team include Grace Hawkins, Abby O’Briant, Katie Sanchez, Ashton Evans, Abby Chandler, Sara Whitt, Emma Duncan, Madison Dunkley, Kyleigh Burton, Mariana Alcatraz, Lauren Kendrick, Abby Gentry, and Grey Carver. “We are the front doorstep of the pipeline of success for hopefully building a dynasty hopefully in the near future for RCS,” Murray said.

Love, RCS Middle School Cheer Team RCS High School Cheer Team RCS Pom Dance Team

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RCS Middle School Cheer Team Captains: Allie Barker & Jailyn Mattos

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RCS High School Cheer Team and Pom Dance Team High School Captains: Savannah Elder, Ashley Foreman, Alycia Parker

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Abby, we are so proud of you!

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Congratulations to our team! A special thanks to our coaches Steve Murray & Gina Mangum for their motivation & selfless dedication.

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FROM PAGE 18 up, but we were able to coach them and guide them through the stressful situations and they always come through, which shows a great deal of maturity.” Schumacher has helped develop a deep pipeline of talent for her daughter, RCS high school coach Meagan Tatum. Three freshmen who excelled on this year’s varsity team played for the Schumacher last season — including North Central Athletic Conference Player of the Year Mackenzi Thornburg. This year’s group of middle school Bulldogs was ripe with talent, led by versatile eighth-grader Hailey Long. Long was one of the team’s setters, along with Kenley Long, but was also a deadly left-handed outside hitter. Most the undefeated Bulldogs play travel ball during the offseason, with many competing for N.C. Elite, a program that Schumacher and Tatum are afflilated with. The Bulldogs’ coach believes that

one of the extraordinary things about her team is just how advanced their are in understanding the game and their willingness to develop as players. “One of thing that impresses most about this team is their I.Q.,” Schumacher said. “They’re doing things that they simply shouldn’t be able to do at their age. It’s fun to watch them mix things up and get strategic and work on different things, including slides. For eighth-graders, that’s amazing.” Members of this team include: Baylee Burton, Georgia Carver, Kayleigh Gentry, Payton Gentry, Kenley Hazel, Hailey Long, Kenley Long, Kailey Mangum, Paige Melton, Taylor Murray, Taylor Rogers, Emma Schumacher, Grayson Whitt, Brenna Winstead. “They are a group from top-tobottom that is very united and unity is certainly our thing and something we stress the most,” Schumacher said. “They all embrace that sense of team and embrace their roles and understand that we are developing a machine and love being a part of it.”

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JV: Young bulldogs divide and conquer to perfect season FROM PAGE 20 that could go out there and play,” Murray said. “We would put Team A out there and they would play a while, and then we’d bring in Team B. Sometimes there would be some troubles and we would go to game three, but it was fine because it gave them so much experience than just sitting on the bench.” The Bulldogs’ coaches led a group that collectively had very little experience on the court outside of playing in youth recreation leagues. It didn’t take long for the players to gel into a strong unit. “The skill level they have already (make them special),” Murray said. “Several of these girls just came in with rec. ball skills and their devel-

Grey Carver My favorite volleyball player! Love, Noah

Madison Dunkley We are so proud of you #3! Love, Daddy, Mama, & Logan

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sAturDAY, Nov. 8, 2014 sAturDAY, Nov. 8, 2014

Silly lil’ Bulldogs The RCS Middle School volleyball teams show off their lighter side

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Perstare et praestare

November 8, 2014

VARSITY: middle school team complete another unblemished campaign

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S o mmu nity

We at Roxboro Community School are extremely proud of the accomplishments of our middle school and high school volleyball teams this season. Not only did these fine young ladies epitomize the word “athlete,” they also served as excellent role models. Our young student athletes displayed maturity, kindness, respect and sportsmanship in every match and practice. Bulldog Strong was a popular hashtag all season. And yes, our Bulldogs are strong. They are also #BulldogDedicated, #BulldogSmart, #BulldogCaring and #BulldogFamily. The middle school team was undefeated – did not drop a single set, in fact – and is conference champions. Middle School Volleyball Coach Micholene Schumacher wrote: Bulldog Volleyball requires a tremendous level of commitment. Each of our student athletes commit to excellence in all areas including time management, sportsmanship, academic excellence, and a 100 percent commitment to team. Each of these attributes is required of EVERY student athlete and parent in our program. It has taken many members from the first team to the current team to build what has become a very special belonging. Each year the girls are more devoted to one another and team is second to nothing. We have had an outpouring of support from our community, our crosstown opponents, and local businesses. Our young ladies feel this support and have built a culture of excellence which has bred tremendous success, proving that hard work and dedication, along with passion and compassion created what has become the sisterhood called BULLDOG Volleyball. Ryann Tate, a member of our high school team, wrote the following for the upcoming RCS Yearbook, and her words sum up the season, and the feelings, better than we ever could: The Roxboro Community School (RCS) varsity volleyball team had the perfect season this year with an overall record of 23-1; 16-0 in conference play. It took a lot of hard work to get the title Conference Champions. The girls showed great devotion to their craft, spending hours practicing after school. An unbreakable bond was formed this season; a bond that made the girls not just teammates but family. Even with the injury of senior setter, Peyton Thornburg, the volleyball girls remained strong all season long. This year, the team had a breakout season and, under the mighty leadership of former volleyball champion, Meagan Tatum, the girls were unstoppable. The varsity volleyball team is the first high school team at Roxboro Community School to be named Conference Champions, and with this title they have forever made their mark and left their legacy. High School Volleyball Coach Meagan Tatum added her thoughts on the season: I only have three years under my belt as a coach; a lot less than many other coaches out there. In those few years of coaching I have started each year working with the student athletes at Roxboro Community School. In the months that we train and work together I have never once been disappointed in the amount of effort, dedication, and passion that the girls pour out onto the court. The young women that I have had the privilege of coaching are all very talented, but what makes them winners is their complete trust in one another. The girls on the volleyball team might not all want to play in college, or have dreams to be Olympic athletes, but they have created a bond that pushes them to greatness on and off the court. Athletes like my RCS Volleyball players today are one in a million, and I have an entire team! The culture created by this program is one of tremendous heart, and that above all has made us the team we are and the team we will continue to be. Thank you for yet another fantastic season. From the entire Roxboro Community School family – well done, ladies. Well done.