Staff report

Fred T. Foard Tigers

Time: Saturday, 6 p.m., No. 5 South Rowan (28-1) at No. 1 Fred T. Foard, in Newton

Round: 2A regional semifinal

Foard’s record: 29-1, the only loss was to undefeated 3A Watauga in five sets on Oct. 10

Foard’s playoff wins:  South Point, East Lincoln, R-S Central (all sweeps, all at home)

Coach Meredith Lombardi: She played for Fred T. Foard (2005-09) and was part of Foard’s 2005 3A state championship team. She played  in college at Lenoir-Rhyne. A P.E. teacher, she’s in her second season at Fred T. Foard.

The team: Foard has been a good volleyball school a long time. Coming into this season Foard had won 64 playoff matches, 60 more than South Rowan.

Foard moved down from 3A to 2A in 2017. Foard lost to West Iredell in a 2017 regional semifinal. The Tigers, who were the No. 1 seed in 2018, lost to West Davidson in a regional semifinal.

Foard players to watch:  5-8 junior outside hitter Megan Dorsey (No. 11), 5-11 sophomore middle Martina Foster (No. 20), 5-6 junior outside hitter Michelle Thao (No. 10), 5-7 senior libero Dara Sheffer (No. 6), 5-9 junior hitter Jamianne Foster (No. 17), 5-2 sophomore setter Haley Johnston (No. 3).