Princeton volleyball team pens historical chapter in school's athletic history

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 3, 2014 1:49 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

RALEIGH -- Charley Cox wasn't about to lose.

Fellow seniors Jenna Woodard, Kasey Edwards and Kathy Hewitt felt the same.

So, when East Surry pulled to within 13-11 in the fifth set, Princeton head volleyball coach Paige Renfrow burned a timeout.

"(I said) stay calm, you know you've got this, play your ball ... just keep it together, communicate, talk (and) make smart decisions," Renfrow said. "They were able to make those smart shots."

The Cardinals fended off one championship point at 14-12.

But not the second.

When East Surry's attack attempt dropped into the net, Princeton achieved a unprecedented milestone in the school's athletic history -- it's first-ever N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1--A state championship in any girls' sport.

The Bulldogs finished state runners-up in girls' basketball in 1977, 1980 and 1986.

"Mine, Kasey's and Jenna's senior year -- that would be the only way to go out (with) a state championship," said Cox, who earned MVP honors after her double-double performance with 27 assists and 19 digs defensively.

"I knew once we got over Lakewood (in the regional final), we deserved this win. We have been here too many times and we just deserved it because we have worked our butts off. I was going to go out with a win whether anybody else liked it or not."

Princeton became just the second Carolina Conference team to reach the volleyball state final since 2004 when Farmville Central lost to Starmount. The Bulldogs claimed the league's 13th state championship overall since the early 1970s.

Carolina Conference teams have competed for a total of 48 state crowns in football, baseball, softball, boys' and girls' tennis, boys' and girls' basketball and volleyball -- according to records kept by the NCHSAA. Seven schools have combined to win nine state championships in baseball and football, including James Kenan's perfect run to the 1-AA football title last December.

The Bulldogs have played in 11 state championship games in program history.

"I told the girls this is something I've been pushing for since I was in high school," said Renfrow, a graduate of Charles B. Aycock who continues to hold several school records during her collegiate days at Pitt Community College and East Carolina.

"I've never made this far, so it was all new to me, so we were all in this new experience together. Assistant coach Paula Wooten has not made this far, either. She's made it to the east regionals, too, so we were all in it fresh.

"It's been a remarkable, awesome experience."

Once the team exited historic Reynolds Coliseum, they were greeted by their enthusiastic fans who cheered loudly, snapped pictures and took videos with their cell phones. Soon after, those frozen moments in time appeared on social media -- including the final play of the five-set match.

That wasn't all.

As the team bus drew closer to home, the coaches and players received a police escort to campus. They walked off the bus into the school gymnasium and the celebration continued.

"I'm proud that we made it to this final step in our season ... a remarkable season," Renfrow said. "The girls gave their heart on the floor, left everything out there. Win the first two (sets), lose the next two and didn't give up in that fifth set.

"We played strong and finished strong."

With determined seniors leading the way.