by Chris Hunt


Hopewell middle hitter Hannah Early was named the 2010 I-MECK 4A conference Volleyball Player of the Year. The 6-foot-1 senior sparked the Titans to a 27-4 mark with team-highs of 310 kills and 88 blocks. This is her second conference player of the year award. She also won the league’s top girls basketball honor last season.



Hopewell sisters Rachel and Adrian Eppley made the all-conference team. Adrian, a senior, chipped in 759 assists this season, while Rachel, a sophomore was the team’s second leading scorer with 233 kills and 533 digs. Senior Caroline Hughes also made the first team with 139 kills and 272 digs. Titan coach Rhonda Auman was named coach of the year.



North Mecklenburg’s Madie Greer (195 kills, 433 digs) and Cameron Van Noy (187 kills, 137 blocks) were I-MECK 4A all-conference selections. So was Hough’s Nikki Hero and Katherine Kennedy.



Hough survives, Hopewell, North Meck fall



It comes as a surprise that Hough would be the last of the three local boys soccer teams remaining in the 4A state playoffs. The Huskies were an afterthought for the postseason, needing a wild card after a fifth-place finish in the I-MECK 4A conference.



Hough (10-12-1) has made the most of its opportunity with a pair of shutouts against Indian Trail Porter Ridge and Asheville A.C. Reynolds. The Huskies’ Santiago Patino and Eric Livingston scored in the second round at Reynolds to set up a third-round match with Mallard Creek (10-8-6), another wild card team that finished sixth in the I-MECK 4A. The teams split their two regular-season matches; Hough won the first, 1-0, while Mallard Creek took the rematch, 3-0.



Mallard Creek upset I-MECK 4A conference champ North Mecklenburg, 1-0, in the first round on Nov. 3. With a Nov. 3 victory at Olympic, Hopewell advanced to the second round but fell to I-MECK No. 2 seed Lake Norman, 2-0, on Nov. 6. The Vikings finished 13-7-3, while the Titans came in at 12-6.



Day to Presbyterian



On Nov. 10, Hopewell senior girls lacrosse player Nikki Day signed a National Letter of Intent with Clinton, South Carolina’s Presbyterian College.
Day was the Titans’ 2009 rookie of the year and 2011 team captain.



Patriots to host basketball ­tournament



The Davidson Day boys and girls basketball programs will host the Davidson Day Tip-Off Classic Nov. 19-20. Participating schools include Northside Christian, Mint Hill Queen’s Grant and Cary Academy.



The first of four games begins at 3:30 pm on Nov. 19, with the championship game tipping off at 6 p.m. on Nov. 20. Admission is $5 for adults and $8 for a two-day adult pass. Admission for students is $4 and $7 for a two-day student pass. Children 5 and under are admitted free.