ROCKINGHAM - Three Richmond Senior High School volleyball players have been named to the 2018 Sandhills Athletic Conference All-Conference team.
Head coach Ashleigh Larsen announced Saturday that senior Savannah Lampley and juniors Carley Lambeth and Layne Maultsby were selected to the 21-player All-SAC team. Richmond brings to the table all three phases of the game with one of the best offensive threats (Lampley), defensive playmakers (Maultsby) and top setters (Lambeth) in the conference.
The release comes as a result of Jack Britt High School’s third-round loss in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s 4A state playoffs, the last remaining SAC team.
Richmond finished with a 13-9 overall record in Larsen’s first year at the helm, and posted a 10-4 record against SAC opponents. That mark was good enough for a third-place finish in the conference standings and a No. 21 seed in the playoffs, and gave the Lady Raiders three automatic selections for the All-SAC team.
Jack Britt, which won the conference outright with a 14-0 record, led the postseason honors team with six players. Pinecrest High School, which finished second in the SAC and lost only two conference matches to Jack Britt, had four players named.
Lady Buccaneer Lexy Cole, a senior middle blocker, was named the SAC’s “Player of the Year,” as she led the conference in kills (306) and kill percentage (44.5 percent). Her head coach, Leigh Ann Weaver, was recognized as the “Coach of the Year.”
“I think all three were great leaders on the team this year,” Larsen said of Lambeth, Lampley and Maultsby. “I’m very proud of them for stepping up, and Carley was new to the team and took over as setter. Savannah and Layne continued to do what they’ve done the past couple of seasons. Looking at stats, they were up in all in their (respective) categories, so they definitely earned their titles to be a part of the all-conference team.
“Savannah was leading the conference in hitting percentage early on, and still finished up near the top,” she continued. “And she was always there to find the open floor for us. Layne held us down in backcourt, and she busted her butt night after night and hit the floor to keep balls from hitting the floor. Carley has a tough position and doesn’t get recognition, but she played great defense and made a lot of good passes.”
Carley Lambeth
Junior Setter
Lambeth made the move with Larsen to the varsity level this season, and earned a starting role as the team’s setter, a developed throughout the year. It is her first career All-SAC team selection.
In the Lady Raiders’ 22 matches this season, which includes their two postseason games, Lambeth played all 80 sets, and dished out 576 assists (7.2 assists per set), which was second only to Jack Britt’s Caitlin Broome (669, 7.1 assists per set). Lambeth was also one of the Lady Raiders’ best servers, as she notched a team-best 44 aces, which placed her seventh in the conference. She was also seventh in the SAC in total digs, and third on Richmond’s team, with 210.
“This season was my first with varsity, and I was trying to work my way up and was fighting for starting position,” Lambeth said. “I was kind of surprised (to be named), but it feels good to see my hard work pay off.
“Varsity is a lot different than playing junior varsity -- it’s a much faster pace,” she continued. “I learned a lot, and Larsen is a really good coach. We moved up (to varsity) together, and she was really helpful. I’d like to thank her because she gave me a chance to play setter, and my parents, Jamie and Jennifer Lambeth, for all of their support this year.”
Savannah Lampley
Senior Outside Hitter
Lampley was just one of two returning starters this season alongside Maultsby, and was the lone Lady Raider All-SAC selection from a season ago. A four-year varsity starter, Lampley capped off her Richmond playing career with her third-straight all-conference selection (she also made it her sophomore and junior seasons).
Arguably Richmond’s strongest hitter at the net, Lampley led the SAC in kills and hitting percentage for much of the 2018 campaign. She finished the year fourth in the conference in kills (238) and kills per set (three), both of which were first for Richmond. Her 38 percent kill percentage was also fourth-best amongst SAC players with at least 230 kills. Lampley also helped out in the back row, as she finished her final campaign with 201 digs (eighth in the SAC and fourth on the team).
“I’m glad to be able to go out on a high note,” Lampley said when asked about her third-straight selection. “I’m finishing like how I started my career, which is pretty neat. I enjoyed taking more of a leadership role this year because most of our starters from last year left. I had to step up into that role.
“It’s been really fun playing the last four years,” she added. “I’ve been able to make a lot of memories and I really enjoyed being able to make all-conference. My favorite memory from this season is when we beat Uwharrie Charter Academy in five sets on the road. It was a good win toward the beginning of season and it’s nice to win when you go to five sets. I’d like to thank Coach Larsen, Coach (Shellie) Wimpey and my parents, Danny and Angela Lampley, for being so supportive during my career.”
Layne Maultsby
Junior Libero
In her third season at the varsity level, Maultsby continued to be the stabilizer in Richmond’s backcourt, and was rewarded with her first All-SAC nod. Last season as a sophomore, she was an instrumental part of a Lady Raider team that went 25-0 to start the season, and proved to be an asset to this year’s team in the back row. In most matches she led Richmond in total digs, with her best night coming against Lumberton High School on Oct. 4 with a career-high 44 digs.
Maultsby finished second in the conference in total digs (341), which was just 26 behind Jack Britt’s Lauren Walker who played 10 more sets. Her tally of 4.2 digs per set was tied for first in the SAC (also Walker), and Maultsby was ninth in the conference and second on the team in total aces (39; second-best amongst liberos).
“It’s very exciting that I was selected for all-conference,” Maultsby shared. “I’m a little surprised because I thought all of our starters were capable of getting this recognition as well. Being the libero, it’s my job to try and get good passes so we can let the hitters do their job. I feel like I was more confident this year, which helped me play better.
“I really want to thank the seniors (Savannah Chappell and Savannah Lampley), as well as Larsen, because they all made this season so enjoyable,” she concluded. “And also my parents, John and Jennie Maultsby, for being there for me and supporting me.”
Below is a complete list of the 2018 All-SAC volleyball team:
Coach of the Year: Leigh Ann Weaver (Jack Britt)
Player of the Year: Lexy Cole (Jack Britt)
Jack Britt (6): Caitlin Broom, Alyssa Bullard, Lexy Cole, Ilena Hall, Kaiah Parker and Lauren Walker.
Pinecrest (4): L’Asia Jackson, Liz Mann, Carley Modlin and Madisen Ringley.
Richmond (3): Carley Lambeth, Savannah Lampley and Layne Maultsby
Lumberton (3): Katie Kinlaw, Rachel O’Neil and Alexandria Simpson
Purnell Swett (2): Nyasia Jackson and Keely Jones
Hoke County (1): Veronique Woodson
Scotland (1): Sarah Eury
Seventy-First (1): Morrigan Denman
