Weddington's varsity volleyball team swept Porter Ridge 3-0 on Tuesday, Oct. 20, to advance to the third round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) state playoffs.
The Warriors will travel to Greensboro to face the Grimsley Whirlies on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m., according to MaxPreps.
The second-round win keeps Weddington rolling. The Warriors are 20-11 overall and ranked No. 15 in North Carolina. They finished conference play at 6-6, fourth in their conference.
Weddington High School Athletics announced the result on X, calling it "playoff mode" and celebrating the straight-set victory.
Porter Ridge has been a familiar opponent this fall. Weddington went 3-0 against the Pirates in non-forfeit matches, sweeping them in a conference match on Sept. 10, a tournament match on Oct. 12 and the playoff second round on Oct. 20. The Warriors' only loss to Porter Ridge came via forfeit on Oct. 6.
The third-round trip to Grimsley presents a stiffer test. The Whirlies are 27-5 overall, ranked No. 20 in North Carolina and went 11-1 in conference play to finish first. Head coach Stacy Way's squad also swept its second-round opponent, beating Ballantyne Ridge 3-0 on Oct. 20, according to MaxPreps.
Grimsley's roster features senior outside hitter Allison Mulry, who leads the team with 317 kills and averages 3.6 kills per set. Senior middle blocker Lucy Shoemaker posts a .364 hitting percentage and 44 total blocks. Senior libero Jasmine Clark anchors the back row at 5.3 digs per set.
Weddington coach Katie Jamerson has guided the Warriors deep into the postseason. In a Sept. 6 Enquirer Journal profile after coaching against her alma mater Marvin Ridge, the 2021 Marvin Ridge graduate and 2018 state champion described the experience as "bittersweet."
The NCHSAA playoff schedule sets the fourth round for Saturday, Oct. 24, with regionals on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and state championships on Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31. A win Thursday in Greensboro would put the Warriors one round from regionals.
