Seaforth survived a second-set scare and swept Orange in a non-conference volleyball matchup, 3-0, on Sept. 12.
The Hawks secured their 10th win in a row which is not their longest varsity win streak in program history.
After a double-digit victory in the opening set, the Hawks quickly found themselves in a back and forth battle that required a bit of a comeback and an extra effort in the second set.
Tied at 7-7, Orange went on a 4-0 run thanks to some solid serves from junior Ava Wilkerson.
Although the Hawks trailed in the middle of the set, they did a good job of keeping within striking distance. Down 16-12, Seaforth made a run of its own, stamped by a kill from junior Josie Valgus that tied the set at 17.
From there, the teams just about traded point for point until the set was knotted at 24. Another emphatic kill from Valgus gave Seaforth a one-point lead, and it needed just one more score to seal a 2-0 advantage. That time, a mistake from Orange on an errant kill attempt did the job, and the Hawks completed the sweep with a 25-19 win in the third set.
Seaforth’s attacking was led by Valgus and sophomore Ally Forbes. Valgus led the team with 14 kills while Forbes poured in 13.
Valgus also recorded 12 assists, but it was senior Maris Huneycutt who carried the setting duties with 22 assists.
With another 3-0 win, the Hawks, as of Monday, have yet to give up a set since its 3-1 loss to Apex Friendship in the season opener.
Seaforth’s 10-game win streak includes impressive sweeps over Chatham Central (third in the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference), Carrboro (11-4 overall and 6-0 in the Northern Lakes 2A/3A conference) and Union Pines (9-3 and second in the Sandhills 3A/4A conference).
Last year, bouts with tougher competition in the regular season didn’t always go as well. All five of Seaforth’s regular season losses in 2023 were against teams in higher classifications, including Union Pines and Orange — teams it has beaten this year.
They’re also finding ways to grind out the tough sets when they’re on their heels. Seaforth survived a 27-25 set against Bartlett Yancey last week, a 25-21 opening set against Chatham Central in August and two sets decided by less than five points against Carrboro earlier this season.
Against 3A opponent Union Pines on Sept. 11, Seaforth also won two sets by a score of 25-21. It has consistently been able to respond to its opponent’s punches and close out games.
Looking at the statistical leaderboards in the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference it’s not surprising why Seaforth is a tough out this season.
Two Hawks, junior Keira Rosenmarkle and Forbes lead the conference kills category as of Monday with 112 and 101, respectively. In the assists column, it’s Huneycutt at the top with 152, and for service aces, Forbes, Valgus and senior Mia Kellam lead the conference in that order.
With less than a month remaining in the regular season, Seaforth is also making good progress towards a high seed in the 2A East playoff bracket.
As of Monday, the Hawks are sixth in the 2A East RPI rankings just behind Manteo, the team Seaforth beat in the third round of last year’s playoffs, and just ahead of Camden County, the eventual 2023 state runner up that knocked Seaforth out in last year’s fourth round.
After Wednesday’s bout with a really good team in Chapel Hill, Seaforth will have just one more non-conference game against East Chapel Hill on Oct. 2.
The Hawks have a good chance at a second-straight undefeated conference slate with the way conference play has gone for them this season.