TWO TEAMS, ONE CONFERENCE: Cherokee and Robbinsville Advance to Western Regional Volleyball Championships

SMOKY MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE — The mountains will be well represented when the NCHSAA Western Regional Volleyball Championships get underway Tuesday night.

The Cherokee Lady Braves and Robbinsville Lady Knights are both just one victory away from playing for a state championship after picking up fourth-round playoff victories Saturday afternoon.

For two programs separated by just a short drive through the mountains of Western North Carolina, the opportunity to compete for regional championships on the same night is a special accomplishment, and another reminder of the talent coming out of the Smoky Mountain Conference.

Cherokee Continues Its March Through the 2A Playoffs

The top-seeded Cherokee Lady Braves continued their impressive postseason run Saturday, sweeping No. 4 Cornerstone Charter Academy in straight sets to punch their ticket to the 2A Western Regional Championship.

Cherokee entered the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the Western Region and has certainly lived up to that billing.

After receiving a first-round bye, the Lady Braves opened their playoff run with a 3–0 victory over Corvian Community before sweeping Gray Stone Day in the third round.

Against Gray Stone Day, Cherokee took control early and never looked back, winning 25–18, 25–13, and 25–17.

Saturday’s victory over Cornerstone Charter marked Cherokee’s third consecutive straight-set victory of the postseason.

Led by standout players Joscelyn Stamper and Lilly Lossiah, the Lady Braves have established themselves as one of the top teams in the 2A classification.

Now, Cherokee finds itself one victory away from playing for a state championship, with an opportunity to add another chapter to an already memorable season.

Robbinsville Knocks Off Conference Rival Andrews

Meanwhile, in Graham County, the Robbinsville Lady Knights continued their own postseason journey Saturday, defeating fellow Smoky Mountain Conference member Andrews to advance to the 1A Western Regional Championship.

The third-seeded Lady Knights entered the postseason with high expectations after putting together a strong regular season.

Following a first-round bye, Robbinsville opened playoff action with a straight-set victory over North Stokes before cruising past Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy in the third round.

Against Thomas Jefferson, Robbinsville dominated from start to finish, winning 25–10, 25–12, and 25–19.

Saturday’s matchup with Andrews provided a different challenge, as the Lady Knights faced a familiar conference opponent with its own hopes of making a deep postseason run.

The Lady Wildcats had put together an impressive playoff journey, advancing to the fourth round as the No. 10 seed in the Western Region.

But it was Robbinsville that came away with the victory, ending Andrews’ season and earning a spot among the final four teams in the 1A classification.

Led by Zaelyn Phillips, Daphne Barlow, Kynnadee Spencer, and Izabel Haney, the Lady Knights have combined offensive firepower with strong defensive play throughout the season.

Now, Robbinsville will have an opportunity to compete for a Western Regional Championship and a trip to the state finals.

A Big Moment for the Smoky Mountain Conference

For years, the Smoky Mountain Conference has been known for producing some of the toughest small-school athletic programs in North Carolina.

This postseason, that tradition has been on full display on the volleyball court.

Not only have Cherokee and Robbinsville advanced to the Western Regional Championships, but Andrews also reached the fourth round, giving the conference three teams among the final eight in their respective classifications.

For a conference tucked away in the far western corner of the state, that’s an accomplishment worth recognizing.

And while Cherokee and Robbinsville compete in different classifications, both will take the court Tuesday night representing their schools, their communities, and the Smoky Mountain Conference.

The Western Regional Championships are scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, with the winners advancing to the NCHSAA State Championships at Campbell University on October 30–31.