Coach Kelan Rogers congratulates Reese Joyner.

Brian Wilhite photo.

 

Staff report

CHINA GROVE — Banners are back in style at Carson, where the volleyball team has returned to being a powerhouse after some relatively quiet years.

Carson is on a roll going into the 3A state playoffs after Wednesday’s South Piedmont Conference Tournament championship match. Playing at home, second-seeded Carson beat top-seeded Lake Norman Charter 25-22, 25-17, 17-25 and 25-23 in the final.

Carson finished with a run in the fourth set to finally put away the Knights.

Carson’s win will be significant when the 3A playoff seeds are announced on Oct. 20.

Lake Norman Charter (20-2) is fifth in the 3A West RPI rankings, while Carson is eighth,  but Carson (23-5) will get the SPC’s best seed for the playoffs, and playing home games is critical.

The teams tied for the regular-season championship with 15-1 records. Lake Norman Charter’s only two losses this season have been to Carson.

East Rowan (14th), South Rowan (18th) and West Rowan (26th) are also set for 3A playoff action.

The first round will be played on Oct. 22.