(Ray Black III/newsobserver.com)
Broughton (21-1) defeated host Cardinal Gibbons (21-8) 11-25, 25-23, 25-20, 19-25, 15-10 on Saturday night to move into the NCHSAA 4A quarterfinals. The Caps will travel to D.H. Conley (24-0) on Tuesday (6pm). Cardinal Gibbons has made 18 consecutive state finals appearances (1998-2015), winning 16 of them.
Gibbons jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the the opening frame but a block by Kalee Vanderhorst allowed the Caps to pull within 8-6. However, the Crusaders closed the game on a 17-5 outburst to claim the first set. Broughton's setter Claire Sawyer rolled her ankle in the first game so defensive specialist Holli Smith handled the setting duties the last four sets. The second stanza was tightly contested from the outset before the Crusaders pushed ahead 17-13. A Vanderhorst kill sparked a 7-2 run to help Broughton forge ahead 20-19. Amber Russell's ace gave the Capitals set point at 24-22. Erin Westburg's kill made it 24-23 but a Gibbons serving miscue ended the set. The Capitals took an early 3-1 lead in the third frame behind a Jade Demps block but Cardinal Gibbons went on an 8-2 stretch before a kill from Vanderhorst pulled the Caps within 9-6. A kill from Jasmin Bradshaw handed the lead back to Broughton at 11-10. Another Demps block propelled the visitors to a 14-11 advantage but Gibbons clawed back to 17-16. A combo block by Demps and Grace Youngblood pushed the Caps ahead 23-20 and consecutive double blocks by Demps and Vanderhorst closed the game. The fourth frame was another back and forth affair before the Crusaders knotted the match at two sets apiece by outscoring the Caps 5-1 at the end. A Vanderhorst kill gave Broughton a 7-6 lead in the deciding fifth frame but Gibbons surged ahead 10-8 before a Demps kill ignited a 7-0 run punctuated by an ace from Holli Smith on match point.
Kalee Vanderhorst tallied 16 kills, 4 blocks and 19 digs and Jade Demps posted 8 kills and 10 blocks. Nan Parrish had 9 kills and 2 blocks and Grace Youngblood added 8 kills and 7 blocks. Holli Smith recorded 30 assists, 4 aces and 6 digs and Claire Sawyer handed out 7 assists. Amber Russell picked up 14 digs and Alden Willis chipped in 9 digs.
Broughton volleyball ends Cardinal Gibbons’ title streak in the third round-
http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/high-school/article111432947.html
Broughton knocks off Cardinal Gibbons in 3rd round of playoffs-Click on the link below to access Broughton's MaxPreps page:
http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/broughton-capitals-(raleigh,nc)/volleyball/home.htm