It's been a puzzling season to say the least for head coach Kris Hagaman of the Watauga High volleyball team. But despite the ups-and-downs, the Pioneers (17-11) have marched their way to

the Class 4A Sectional Finals---again! The Pioneers, who defeated A.C. Reynolds, the No.2 seed from the Mountain Athletic 3A/4A Conference, in four games Tuesday night at Lentz-Eggers Gym in the second round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Class 4A state playoffs, will play at Cornelius-Hough (28-1), the No.1 seed from the I-Meck Conference, in the sectional championship game Thursday night.
Hough advanced by knocking off Sun Valley 3-0 Tuesday night. The Pioneers advanced by beating the Rockets, 26-16, 25-15, 20-25, 26-24. Kristen Carter paced WHS with 52 assists; Channing Hagaman had 28 kills, 20 digs and four service aces; Rebecca Hayes had 20 kills and five blocks; Ashlyn VanDyke had 21 digs; Sarah Petersen had nine kills.
Halee Wright led the Rockets with 43 digs; Courtney Koehler had seven blocks and Leah Hawkins had eight assists and 21 digs. The Class 4A Regional semfinals will be played Saturday; the regionals finals will be played Monday night. The Pioneers lost to Charlotte-Providence in the western finals last year.

Watauga Volleyball defeated AC Reynolds
25-16, 25-15, 20-25, 26-24

WHS:
Kristen Carter 52 assists
Channing Hagaman 28 kills, 20 digs, 4 aces
Rebecca Hayes 20 kills, 5 blocks
Ashlyn VanDyke 21 digs
Sarah Petersen 9 kills

AC Reynolds:
Halee Wright 43 digs
Courtney Koehler 7 blocks
Leah Hawkins 8 assists, 21 digs