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North squad epitomizes team concept
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Published: November 2, 2008
RALEIGH — Moments after her team defeated Greenville Conley 3-0 in the 3A state championship Saturday, North Iredell's Molly Rhyne clutched the Most Valuable Player plaque bestowed upon her with a bit of reservation.
If the Gardner-Webb University-bound senior could split the award nine ways and share it with the other eight Raiders, she would have in a heartbeat.
"It's a really, really, good feeling," Rhyne said, "but I think everybody on my team deserves MVP. I don't think I stood out. They all played great."
Rhyne finished with match-highs in kills (14) and stuff blocks (five), but everyone saw action and contributed in some manner for the Raiders.
"They all do a great job of pulling their weight," North coach Natalie Tribble said.
With 15 players on its roster, defending champion Conley had more so-called depth than North.
But the Raiders' balance proved to be superior.
"When I (made cuts) this season, and I left it with nine (players), I knew that, God willing, we all stayed healthy, numbers didn't matter," Tribble said.
But she wasn't the only one confident her players' abilities could produce the program's first state championship.
A North fan presented the team with black and red championship T-shirts, which were printed in advance of Saturday's title match.
"That's some faith right there," Tribble said.
No need to single out one follower, though.
Olin, Harmony and Union Grove must have been ghost towns Saturday because the North faithful, sensing a victory of historic proportions was at hand, turned out en masse.
Their boisterous backing didn't go unnoticed or underappreciated.
"They drove a long way to come see us play, and we're glad they came to support us," Rhyne said. "They're just as much a part of this.
"This is just really special."
Winning every game of every match and punctuating a perfect 26-0 season with the ultimate prize like the tight-knit Raiders did?
Really special, indeed.
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