By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Completing a sweep of the entire Northwestern Conference, Watauga recorded yet another 3-0 decision on Oct. 9 vs. St. Stephens, on “Senior Night” at Lentz Eggers Gym (25-15, 25-10, 25-10).

“I’m just so proud to be a part of this team and how hard we have worked to get here, all season,” said senior Athena Elliott after the match. She aims to go to the Air Force Academy after graduation and become a fighter pilot.

Elliott didn’t record any “kills” in this match, but senior teammate Emma Pastusic chalked up a game-high 26 of them. Another senior, middle blocker Kora Knight, racked up 8 more kill with junior outside hitter Ashlyn Smith following with seven kills.

Head coach Kim Pryor used the lopsided win to give valuable on-court varsity experience to a total of 14 Pioneers as the team prepares for the conference tournament next week and then the state playoffs.

As a team, Watauga put up a whopping 18 service aces against the Indians, led by Lainey Gragg (6 aces) and three each by Ember Honeycutt, Caroline Childers and the versatile Smith.

Defensively, the Pioneers weren’t active at the net with sophomore middle blocker Addie Stough recording the only block, but a quartet of Watauga back row players led the team in digs: Caroline Childers (12 digs), Emma Pastusic (10), Ashlyn Smith (8) and Lilli Combs (6).

Lainey Gragg staged Watauga’s offensive attack with 38 sets, while Childers (18 serve receives), Smith (12) and Pastusic (6) kept the ball in play on St. Stephens’ serving opportunities.

The Pioneers finish the regular season with a 21-1 overall record, the lone defeat coming at the hands of longtime rival, Hickory, 3-1, in the season’s first match, at Hickory on Aug. 11. Watauga returned the favor to the Red Tornadoes in Lentz Eggers Gym on Aug. 25, 3-1. In addition to not losing a single set in Northwestern Conference play, the Pioneers swept non-conference opponents West Wilkes, Southwestern Randolph, North Iredell, Providence, Forbush, A.L. Brown, Foard and Ashe County, while taking 3-1 wins over Ashe County and Hickory Christian Academy.

As the No. 1 seed for the conference tournament, Watauga receives a bye into the semifinals, to be played Tuesday, Oct. 14, at McDowell. The finals will also be played at McDowell, whomever the contenders for the conference tournament championship game on Wed., Oct. 15.

REGULAR SEASON NORTHWESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

1. Watauga (10-0, 21-1 overall)
2. Alexander Central (8-2, 15-6)
3. South Caldwell (5-5, 11-8)
4. St. Stephens (4-6, 8-11)
5. McDowell (3-7, 11-11)
6. Freedom (0-10, 3-18)

BONUS PHOTOS (Click on any image for larger version and Slide Show Mode)

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — After splitting the first two “nail biter” sets, Watauga’s junior varsity volleyball team stormed past the visiting Indians in the third to win their final test of the 2025 campaign (25-15, 22-25, 15-6).

Mia Mitchell recorded 31 assists, feeding the Pioneer trio of Adeline Tate (9 kills), Kira Beasley (8 kills), and Haileigh Peele (7 kills).

Beasley also posted three service aces and teammates Lia Gillina and Ember Honeycutt followed with two more each, to lead the Pioneers on the service line.

Defensively, Honeycutt led Watauga with 10 digs while Beasley added seven. Mitchell and Madison Plemons also contributed, with six digs each.

The Pioneer JVs conclude their 2025 season 19-1 overall, 9-1 against Northwestern Conference opponents.

BONUS PHOTOS (Click any image for larger version and Slide Show Mode)

All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — One semifinal was a decisive thumping by top-seeded Hardin Park over the No. 4-seed, Cove Creek (25-19, 25-10). The other semifinal was a nailbiter of a sweep by No. 3 upstart Blowing Rock at the expense of No. 2-seeded Parkway (25-20, 26-24). The final, though, went pretty much according to pro forma expectations, with the Rockets coming back to Earth in a 2-0 sweep by the Golden Eagles (25-5, 25-13).

Hardin Park had a near-perfect season, losing only one set throughout the season, to the  Parkway, which finished the regular season No. 2. After a strong finish to the regular season, Blowing Rock finished No. 3 but didn’t surprise many by their strong showing in the tournament as the runner-up.

48 BONUS PHOTOS (click on any image for larger size and Slide Show Mode)

All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports

By David Rogers. MARION, N.C. — Led by outside hitters Emma Pastusic and Ashlyn Smith, with 21 and 11 kills, respectively, the Watauga women’s volleyball team cruised to yet another 3-0 sweep in Northwestern Conference play on Oct. 7 (25-16, 25-13, 25-22).

In the lopsided win, the Pioneers’ head coach Kim Pryor was able to get valuable, on-court playing time for 14 of her athletes, all seeing participation in at least one set. The win put Watauga in the drivers seat for next week’s conference tournament with the likely No. 1 seed and automatic pass to the semifinals on Tuesday, Oct. 14, in a return trip to Marion where McDowell will host the semis and finals on consecutive nights, Oct. 14 and 15.

Going into the final regular season match vs. St. Stephens on Oct. 9 (“Senior Night”), Watauga is 20-1 overall and 9-0 in Northwestern Conference play.

SELECTED INDIVIDUAL STATS

Kills: Emma Pastusic (21), Ashlyn Smith (11), Kora Knight (7), Gracyn Phelps (2), Addie Stough (2), Lainey Gragg (1), Athena Elliott (1)

Service Aces: Lainey Gragg (3), Ashlyn Smith (3), Caroline Childers (2), Emma Pastusic (1), Jillian Martin (1), Lilli Combs (1)

Assists: Lainey Gragg (39), Caroline Childers (5)

Blocks: Addie Stough (1)

Digs: Caroline Childers (25), Lilli Combs (14), Ashlyn Smith (10),  Lainey Gragg (10). Emma Pastusic (8), Ava Zaragoza (3), Kora Knight (1)

Serve Receives: Caroline Childers 24, Ashlyn Smith 15), Emma Pastusic (6), Lilli Combs (1)

BONUS PHOTOS (Click on any image for larger version and Slide Show Mode)

All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports

By David Rogers. MARION, N.C. — A broad-based, coordinated attack by Watauga’s junior varsity volleyball team resulted in seven different players recording kills against the McDowell Titans JV on Oct. 7, reinforced by five service aces from Kira Beasley.

The Pioneers won, 2-0 (25-8, 25-13).

Watauga had little trouble in dispatching McDowell, improving their overall record to 18-1 and 3-0 in Northwestern Conference play.

Freshman outside hitter Adeline Tate led the attack with a game-high six kills, with sophomore Kira Beasley adding four kills. Freshman setter Mia Mitchell orchestrated the attack with 12 assists and played a key role defensively with a game-high six digs. Defensive specialist Kelbey Windish mustered four digs to keep the ball in play.

Next action for the Pioneers is a final home match to end the 2025 JV campaign, vs. St. Stephens on Oct. 9.

SELECTED STATS

Kills: Adeline Tate (6), Kira Beasley (4), Haileigh Peele (2), Mia Mitchell (2), Addin Hodges (2), Payton Carter (1), Ellie Helms (1), Lia Gillin (1)

Service Aces: Kira Beasley (5), Anna Casey (2), Kelbey Windish (1), Mia Mitchell (1), Lia Gillin (1)

Assists: Mia Mitchell (12), Ember Honeycutt (2), Katie Bentley (1)

Blocks: Adeline Tate (1), Mia Mitchell (1)

Digs: Mia Mitchell (6), Kelbey Windish (4), Ember Honeycutt (3), Anna Casey (2), Kira Beasley (1), Haileigh Peele (1), Lia Gillin (1), Molly Nolte (1)

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Watauga 8th grader Kate James Moore not only finished the Western Highlands Middle School Conference 2-mile run hosted by Watauga High School as No. 1 in the Girls Division — but more than 90 seconds ahead of No. 2, Mitchell MS 7th grader Laney Glenn.

All told, Watauga had seven of the top 10 finishers. Behind Moore were Eden Gates (No. 3, 14:29.76, 8th grade), Liliana Resendiz (No. 4, 14:39.98, 8th grade), Estalee Davenport (No. 6, 15:27.46, 8th grade), Hannah Reule (No. 7, 15:47.12, 7th grade), Abbie Cutchens (No. 8, 15:49.27, 6th grade), and Elena Worley (No. 9, 16:01.05, 6th grade).

No. 5 was Amelia Minick in 15:03.13, a 7th grade student athlete representing Foothills Running.

Forty-three (43) student athletes competed in the Girls Division race, with Watauga taking home the team top prize (19 points), followed by Avery (60) and Mitchell (65).

GIRLS DIVISION RESULTS

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — A strong team performance by the Grace Academy of Boone boys cross-country team highlighted the Western Highlands Middle School Conference meet hosted by Watauga High School on Oct. 7. Grace Academy swept the top four finishing positions and captured six of the top 10 spots.

Evan Gordon, a Grace Academy 8th grade student crossed the finish line as No. 1 for the two mile course, in 11:50.07. He was followed by teammates Micah Arnold (No. 2, 11:51.88, 7th grade), Brandon Gordon (No. 3, 12:31.36, 7th grade) and Weston Galy (No. 4, 12:41.72, 5th grade).

Grace Academy had a near-perfect team score of 16 points, followed by Watauga District Middle School at 43, Avery Middle School at 97, and East Yancey Middle School at 98.

Watauga’s top scorers include Yates Hodges (No. 6, 13:19.95, 8th grade), John Braxton (No. 8, 13:22.03, 7th grade), Ben Trivette (No. 10, 13:28.03, 8th grade) and William Leonard (No. 11, 13:28.97, 6th grade.

Forty-two student athletes competed in  the Boys Division.

BOYS DIVISION

By Matt Present. BOONE, N.C. — App State earned a point at home against East Division leader James Madison, with a 1-1 draw at The Valley on Oct. 5.

Olivia Simon put the Mountaineers (5-5-3, 1-2-3 Sun Belt) on the board in the fourth minute, finishing a feed from Kyli Switalski for her second goal of the season.

The advantage was short-lived, as the Dukes (6-3-5, 2-1-3) equalized in the 24th minute when Jordan Yang buried a shot off an assist from Jamie Swartz.

Both defenses held firm the rest of the way. Goalkeeper Hanna Skogsfors anchored the Mountaineers with four saves, including a pair in the final 10 minutes to preserve the draw.

App State generated seven shots, with Izzi Wood, Simon and Reagan Sturgill each testing James Madison keeper Lili White, who finished with three saves. Wood was turned away on a prime opportunity in the opening minutes of the match.

Simon, Sydney Snowden, Aleesia Ambrosio and Maddie Williams played all 90 minutes for App State.

App State has earned a point in each of their last three matches and the team will look to continue its success on the road next Saturday when the Mountaineers visit ULM at 8 p.m. ET.

By Layne McNary. BOONE, N.C. — The App State field hockey team fell to No. 6 Liberty, 7-1, on Sunday.

Hadley Kuzmicky scored the lone goal for the Mountaineers (8-3, 3-1 MAC), tallying her seventh goal of the season.

How it Happened

1st Quarter: Liberty (9-1, 3-0 Big East) got on the board first, taking the lead eight minutes into the contest. Goalkeeper Claire Grenis also tallied one save in the period, keeping the Mountaineers within one score heading into the second.

2nd Quarter: Liberty found the back of the cage twice in the period, extending the lead. Kuzmicky scored in the final moments of the first half to put the Mountaineers on the board, with Grenis netting another save in the period.

3rd Quarter: Liberty tallied two more goals in the period, extending the lead to four. The Mountaineers earned one penalty corner but could not convert a goal from the set piece.

4th Quarter: The Mountaineers earned another penalty corner and took two shots early in the period. Liberty scored twice more to close out the game.

Match Notes

Goals: App State: Kuzmicky (1) | Liberty: Combrinck (1), Gaillard (5), Semmartin (1)

Assists: App State: N/A | Liberty: Combrinck (1), Giacosa (1), Pollock (1), Prieri (1), Richard (1), Santana (1), Semmartin (1), Tomasi (1)

Winning Goalie: Diane Saint Martin (9-1, 3-0 Big East) — 0 saves, 1 goal allowed
Losing Goalie: Claire Grenis (8-3, 3-1 MAC) — 3 saves, 7 goals allowed

Up Next

The Mountaineers will hit the road for the next two games, taking on MAC opponent Central Michigan on Friday, Oct. 10, at 1 p.m., and Michigan State on Sunday, Oct. 12, at noon.