Gaston College volleyball enjoys homecoming as it opens its on-campus facility
There's no place like home for the Gaston College beach volleyball team.
After four straight weeks on the road, a string of 13 matches that started with a Feb. 21 season opener at St. Andrews, the Rhinos opened their new on-campus volleyball facility this weekend in the inaugural Rhinos Invitational.
Matches involving Gaston College, Sandhills Community College, Richard Bland and Catawba College were played on Friday and Saturday. The event drew fans, college officials, students and parents to the official unveiling of the five-court layout on the Dallas campus. It was the first on-campus athletic event at Gaston College since it restarted athletics in the 2021-22 school year.
"This weekend was so amazing being able to play at home," Rhinos coach Rachel Noreika said. "Having so many people around, we brought so much energy."
On Friday, Gaston College recorded the school's first-ever 5-0 sweep in a victory over Sandhills Community College before dropping a 3-2 heartbreaker to Catawba College. On Saturday, Richard Bland knocked off the Rhinos 5-0.
All five pairs recorded at least one victory with the No. 1 pairing of Cristina Rotola and Naomi Hilliard taking a 21-8, 21-13 victory over Sandhills and a 21-18, 15-21, 15-11 win over Catawba and the No. 4 pairing of Bianca Bowland and Carli Phillips defeating Sandhills 21-15, 15-21, 15-10 and Catawba 9-21, 21-16, 15-10.
Other winning teams were the No. 2 pairing of Emma Downay and Liz Jones with a 21-12, 21-14 win over Sandhills, the No. 3 pairing of Millea Styles and Cameryn Reavis with a 21-15, 21-17 victory over Sandhills and the No. 5 pairing of Kristy Seifert and Leilani Nolasco taking a 21-11, 21-14 win over Sandhills.
The two wins by the Bowland/Phillips increased their seasonal win streak to six. And when their streak was broken in the loss to Richard Bland, they lost in split sets by an 8-21, 21-17, 12-15 margin.
"Our first sweep in our first home match was fantastic," Noreika said of the win over Region 10 rival Sandhills. "The girls had to work through some nerves, but after that they settled in and played well."
Gaston College returns to action on Wednesday at 3 p.m. at home against Bob Jones University of Greenville, S.C.
"Everybody that's been here is just impressed that we have such a beautiful facility," Noreika said. "We are just laying the foundation of something really cool."
That will continue on Sunday when the N.C. High School Sand Volleyball Association (NCHSSVA) begins its season at the Gaston College courts.
"Todd Sloan, the director of this region, is running their season on our courts," Noreika said. "So on Sundays for the next month and a half, a lot of high school athletes and families will be on our campus."