‘It will sting a little.’ Record NMB volleyball season ends in title game loss
There were plenty of positives for the North Myrtle Beach volleyball team this season.
NMB coach Alex Sing reflected on them Saturday following his team’s 3-1 (28-30, 25-18. 25-21, 25-21) loss to South Aiken in the Class 4A championship match.
It was the Chiefs’ second-straight state title game defeat, but a season that Sing and the program will remember.
“They did some things this season that no other teams have ever done,” Sing said. “... It was a great season overall for our area and our kids. It will sting a little tonight like it should. But they will grow from it, learn from it.
“Last year, we were young and lost in five sets. We were kind of happy to be in that moment. This year, I know that we really wanted it.”
North Myrtle Beach went 43-2 on the season and hadn’t lost to an in-state opponent before Saturday. The Chiefs’ only other defeat came against Mussellman (W.Va.) on Aug. 26.
One of NMB’s wins included a 2-0 victory over South Aiken in a tournament on Sept. 30.
Both the Chiefs and T-Breds were regarded as two of the best teams in the state regardless of classification, and the first set showed that.
Neither team led by more than two points, and NMB trailed 22-20 before scoring three straight points to lead 23-22. The Chiefs had three chances to close out the set with South Aiken answering each time.
Clara Cloninger gave the Chiefs a 29-28 lead and they closed it out the next point to win 30-28. Cloninger and Olivia Borgman each had big performances for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs led 14-12 in the second set before South Aiken rattled off six points in a row and went on to win, 25-18.
In the third set, the two teams were tied at 20-20 before SA’s Anna Karius had a kill and Marlena Lee followed with a block and kill to put the T-Breds up 23-20. Karius finished the set off with another kill to give South Aiken a 2-1 lead in the match.
South Aiken took control of the fourth set with four straight points to lead 15-11. Annie Dziczkowski had four kills in the stretch. The Chiefs hung tough, fighting off four straight match points to cut it to 24-21 before Dziczkowski finished it, setting off a big celebration.
It was South Aiken’s first championship in program history.
“It is just unreal right now. I can’t describe it,” South Aiken coach Cassie McKie said. “We are going to enjoy this moment. We have seven seniors who are going to be leaving us, but I am just so proud of them and excited for them to have a memorable last night together.”
North Myrtle Beach was one of two Horry County schools to play for volleyball championships. Carolina Forest made it to the inaugural Class 5A boys volleyball championship before losing to Dorman, 3-1 (25-16, 26-24, 22-25, 25-19.) on Thursday. The Panthers finished the season with a 29-2 record.
SCHSL Volleyball Championships
At Dreher High School
Thursday
Class 4A Boys: Bishop England 3, Catawba Ridge 0
Class 5A Boys: Dorman 3, Carolina Forest 1
Saturday
Class A Girls: St. Joseph’s 3, Bridges Prep 0
Class 5A Girls: Dorman 3, Wando 1
Class 3A Girls: Wren 3, Camden 1
Class 2A Girls: Bishop England 3, Landrum 0
Class 4A Girls: South Aiken 3, North Myrtle Beach 1
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This story was originally published November 5, 2023 at 6:15 AM.
