From staff reports

West Rowan senior Tori Hester was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association all-region team for the states of Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and the Carolinas on Thursday.

Hester, who will sign with Troy next week, had 517 kills this season and 1,643 for her career.

College basketball

Catawba’s men’s basketball team opens the season today in Florence, S.C.

The Indians will be taking on UNC Pembroke as part of the South Atlantic Conference/Peach Belt Conference Challenge hosted by Francis Marion.

Catawba will tip off at 1 p.m.

On Saturday, Catawba has a 4 p.m. tip-off at FMU against Francis Marion.

Coming off a SAC tournament championship, head coach Rob Perron’s Indians are highly regarded. They were picked third in the preseason SAC poll.

Guards Marcell Haskett and Devin Cooper are preseason All-SAC picks, and they’ve been joined by a host of strong returners and promising newcomers.

Catawba is ranked 22nd nationally in the NCAA.com preseason poll.

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Jamarius Hairston (Carson) had 16 points and five rebounds as Davidson County Community College routed Carolinas Christian, 124-68.

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Owen McCormack (Davie) had four points and two rebounds for Presbyterian in his college debut against Clemson on Thursday.

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Livingstone’s men open the season tonight and Saturday in a tournament at West Virginia State.

Livingstone plays Urbana at 8 p.m. tonight and  faces the host team on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Catawba women

Catawba’s women’s basketeball team is also opening the season today.

The Indians are playing in a challenge tournament hosted by Newberry and will take on North Greenville at 3 p.m.

On Saturday, Catawba will battle Erskine at 4 p.m.

Catawba was picked sixth in the SAC preseason poll.

Catawba has a  strong freshman class, and they’ll be joining returners such as All-SAC preseason picks Talia Barnes and Taisha DeShazo and senior Madi Hallman.

Both Catawba basketball teams start their home season on Nov. 23.

Jayvee football

A.L. Brown won 31-7 against Concord on Thursday to finish an undefeated season.

Antoine Nelson coaches the Wonders.

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Carson beat South Iredell 22-18 on Thursday to win the North Piedmont Conference.

Hunter Burris threw a touchdown pass to Emory Taylor and Jordan Galarza and Burris ran for touchdowns.

Taylor and Galarza had 2-point conversions for the Cougars (8-2, 5-0).

Gunnar Michael intercepted two passes to lead Carson’s defense. Jasper Rojas and CJ Barnette also picked off passes.

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Salisbury beat South Rowan 24-22 on Thursday.

Bronson Hunt threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to JD James for the Raiders. Trae Rucker had rushing touchdowns of 5 and 10 yards and a pair of 2-point conversions.

  

Mid. school hoops

Erwin’s girls won against Knox, 34-27.

Hannah Waddell scored 19, and Allie Martin had eight.

Shamya Arnold had 23 for Knox.

College soccer

In their regular-season finale, the Catawba women’s soccer team (11-2-3, 6-1-3 SAC) battled to a scoreless tie with Wingate (11-3-2, 7-2-1 SAC)  on Wednesday night.

Catawba finished fourth.

Catawba will host Lincoln Memorial at 3 p.m. on Saturday in the first round of the SAC tournament.

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In the season finale for the Catawba men’s soccer team (6-9, 2-8 SAC), the Indians were defeated by Wingate (10-2-3, 6-2-2 SAC) 7-0.

   

College swimming

Catawba College has announced its men’s and women’s swim teams have joined the Eastern College Athletic Conference   for the 2019-20 season.

The teams will compete in the 2020 ECAC Swimming Championships which will be held from Feb. 28 through March 1 at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

“We are extremely excited to compete in the ECAC Conference,”   Catawba swim coach Mike Sever said.  “Though the conference is notably Division I programs, Catawba men and women stack-up strongly against the competitors. It’s a huge opportunity for Catawba to compete on this stage and earn podium finishes.”

More than twenty teams will be represented including, Navy, Army, Bucknell, Penn, Loyola  and Harvard.

YFL Super Bowl

YFL Super Bowl games will be played at South Rowan High Saturday.

It’s Granite-Faith against West Rowan in the noon matchup for grades 2-3-4.

It’s South Rowan vs. West Rowan at 1:30 p.m. for the title for grades 5 and 6.