SWR advances to volleyball state title match

Southwestern Randolph’s Carleigh Whitson digs the ball against East Surry during the Class 2-A West Regional final at East Surry in Pilot Mountain on November 2, 2021. Southwestern Randolph won 3-2. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL

PILOT MOUNTAIN — The Southwestern Randolph Cougars will play for the Class 2-A state volleyball championship at Reynolds Coliseum on the North Carolina State campus in Raleigh after defeating host East Surry in five sets Tuesday night.

The Cougars (27-5) will face Camden County at 11 a.m. Saturday in the state final.

Southwestern Randolph’s Molly Strider dives for the dig against East Surry during the Class 2-A West Regional final at East Surry in Pilot Mountain on November 2, 2021. Southwestern Randolph won 3-2. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL

The Cougars dropped the first set before taking a 2-1 advantage. After a close fourth set, the Cougars closed out the match with a 15-12 winner-take-all final set.

Southwestern Randolph’s Payton Shiflet dives to save the ball against East Surry during the fifth set of the Class 2-A West Regional final at East Surry in Pilot Mountain on November 2, 2021. Southwestern Randolph won 3-2. PJ WARD-BROWN/NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Payton Shiflet had 34 kills and 21 digs, Josie Allred had 16 kills and two blocks, Madelyn Smith had 10 kills, Raegan LeRoy had 61 assists and 10 digs and Coley Shiflet had 25 digs.