FALL SPORTS

The Region 5-3A title is what the Gilbert High School volleyball team has within its sights.

Entering the first of two meetings against 2-time defending champion Strom Thurmond, the Lady Indians (10-1, 3-0) are off to their best start in seven years.

With a roster dominated by juniors and sophomores, head coach Jackie Shealy said the team’s work ethic and versatility compensates for a lack of experience.

“We have a young group with no seniors on this team and it’s just everything is clicking,” Shealy said. “We’ve got a lot of all-around players that are coming off the bench and they’re willing to play different positions and they’re working hard and they’ve set some goals for themselves. They’re expecting a lot from their teammates and themselves. They are truly working to reach the stars.”

Juniors Courtney Price and Chidera Wilson are among the team leaders in hitting percentages. Carlee Jones has also emerged despite playing a brief time in her hitting position and Hannah McDowell has averaged over 30 assists in the last two region matches.

Gilbert will face Strom Thurmond at home Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and travel to Johnston Monday for the rematch.

VOLLEYBALL

Sept. 18 scores

Lexington 3, Dutch Fork 0 (25-9, 25-11, 25-17)

Senior Maggie Salley led the offense with 10 kills and 4 aces. Rae Stackley also had 6 kills and an ace for the Lady Wildcats (14-4, 1-0).

Gilbert 3, Pelion 0 (25-9, 25-11, 25-17)

Hannah McDowell had 4 aces, 33 assists and 4 kills, Kailey Lastinger had four ace serves, Courtney Price had 10 kills and Chidera Wilson finished with 9 kills for the Lady Indians (9-1, 2-0).

River Bluff 3, Chapin 0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-17)

The Lady Gators (14-5-1, 1-0) won their Region 5-5A opener.

Sept. 19 scores

Pelion 3, Wagener-Salley 0

McKenna Smith had six aces and five kills, Madison Nicholson had 19 assists, five aces and four kills, Aiyanna Meetze had five aces and five kills, Emily Barney had four kills and a block and Kaleigh Spires had 26 digs.

Sept. 20 scores

River Bluff 3, White Knoll 0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-16)

Gilbert 3, Swansea 0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-11)

Carlee Jones and Chidera Wilson each had 7 kills, Courtney Price had 8 kills and Hannah McDowell has 6 kills, 2 aces and 37 assists for the Indians, who improved to 3-0 in Region 5-3A.

Batesburg-Leesville 3, Ninety-Six 0 (25-13, 24-26, 25-15, 25-22)

Sept. 24 scores

Batesburg-Leesville 3, Saluda 1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-10, 25-19)

The Lady Panthers improved to 3-0 in Region 2-2A on Monday.

CROSS-COUNTRY

MIKE MOORE LAKE MURRAY INVITATIONAL

(BOYS)

1. Jaden Kingsley (Chapin), 2. Alan Deogracias (Blythewood), 3. Austin Spencer (T.L. Hanna), Zander Jeff-coat (Lexington), 5. Paul McCants (Westwood), 6. Logan Seifert (Hilton Head), 7. Nic Danielski (Ashley Ridge)

8. Daniel Munoz (Wando), 9. William Johnson (Lexington), 10. Colton Thune (Hilton Head)

TEAM STANDINGS - 1. Lexington,

2. Hilton Head, 3. T.L. Hanna, 4. Wan-do, 5. Ashley Ridge, 6. Dreher, 7. Spartanburg Day, 8. Dutch Fork, 9. Heath-wood Hall, 10. Blythewood

(GIRLS)

1. Ava Grace Fowler (Lexington),

2. Jais Ward (Heathwood Hall), 3. Isabel Muehleman (Hilton Head), 4. Sarah Neville (Hilton Head), 5. Kathleen Allden (Dreher), 6. Lauren Devaney (Dutch Fork), 7. Sarah Cooke (Hilton Head), 8. Katy Hall (Irmo), 9. Sidney Jenkins (Dreher), 10. Brianna Hartley (Dutch Fork)

TEAM STANDINGS - 1. Dutch Fork, 2. Irmo, 3. Hilton Head, 4. Lexington, 5. Heathwood Hall, 6. Dreher,

7. Colleton County, 8. T.L. Hanna, 9. Pelion, 10. Cardinal Newman

LAKELANDS INVITATIONAL

(BOYS)

1. John Bolinger (Spartanburg), 2. Evan Price (Laurens), 3. Jacob Mangione (River Bluff), 4. Marvin Brooks (Spartanburg), 5. Jonathan Tan (River Bluff), 6. Chris Conrick (River Bluff), 7. Garrett Sponenberg (Greenwood Christian), 8. Brody Wallace (Greenbrier), 9. William Moran (River Bluff), 10. Eric White (Greenbrier)

TEAM STANDINGS - 1. River Bluff, 2. Spartanburg, 3. Greenbrier, 4. Aiken, 5. Dixie, 6. Palmetto, 7. Easley,

8. Greenwood Christian, 9. Laurens,

10. South Aiken

(GIRLS)

1. Victoria Colon-LaBorde (Aiken),

2. Madelyn Gomez (River Bluff), 3. Shelby Seymour (Greenwood), 4. Madison Crumley (Palmetto), 5. Gabi Anson (Greenbrier), 6. Paige Trent (Clinton), 7. Kadence Hope Alexander (River Bluff), 8. Hannah Gabi Hart (River Bluff), 9. Morgan Roberts (Palmetto), 10. Monica Del Castillo (Greenbrier)

TEAM STANDINGS - 1. River Bluff, 2. Greerbrier, 3. Palmetto, 4. Spartanburg, 5. Hanahan, 6. Aiken, 7. Greenwood, 8. Ninety-Six, 9. Emerald,

10. Crescent

GIRLS TENNIS

Sept. 19 scores

Cardinal Newman 5, Lexington 1

SINGLES

Mary Katherine Gillespie (CN) def. Becca Bryan (L) 6-2, 4-6, 10-6

Emmie Thompson (L) def. Gabi Pryar (CN) 6-2, 6-7, 10-5

Julia Brooks (CN) def. Reet Verma (L) 6-3, 6-4

Madeline Fallaw (CN) def. Caroline Goodman (L) 6-4, 6-4

Ella Fallaw (CN) def. Emma Whet-sell (L) 6-0, 6-0.

DOUBLES

Elizabeth Cutler & Madison Clary (CN) def. Rohita Patil & Emma Taylor (L) 6-1, 6-3

Sept. 20 scores

Lexington 5, Chapin 1

(Singles)

Becca Bryan (L) def. Morgan Grooms (C) 6-3, 6-4

Emmie Thompson (L) def. Sidney Smith (C) 6-4, 6-1

Reet Verma (L) def. Gracie Culley (C) 7-6, 6-1

Caroline Goodman (L) def. McCuen Bland (C) 7-5, 6-7, 10-8

Emma Whetsell (L) def. Sara Kate Blacock (C) 6-7, 7-6, 10-5

(Doubles)

Kristen Koon & Hannah Hicken (C) def. Rohita Patil & Emma Taylor (L) 6-3, 3-6, 11-9

SWIMMING

River Bluff stays perfect

The River Bluff girls swim teams remained undefeated after sweeping the Sept. 19 tri-meet against Region 5-5A rivals Dutch Fork and Lexington and winning the Blue Devil Invite this past Sunday. They close out the regular season Wednesday against Spring Valley.

GOLF

Gilbert, Lexington place 2nd

Led by freshman Kennedy Gooding, Gilbert High School finished second at the Lady Eagle Invite at Stoney Point on Monday.

A day after placing second overall at the High School Invite after shooting a 2-day career-best 145, Gooding finished third with a score of 74.

She was followed by teammates Ally Moss (84), Alexis Hodge (86) and Meredith Price (88).

This past Sunday, Lexington placed second at the WSCGA Junior Golf Foundation Championship at Cat Island behind Boiling Springs.