Up & Coming Weekly

August 22, 2017

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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AUGUST 23 - 29, 2017 UCW 25 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Lauren Giles has a tough act to follow in her first season as volleyball coach at Gray's Creek. So does Jeff Bruner at Cape Fear, but it's his own fault, because he was the architect of what happened with the Colts last season. Giles is taking over for the highly successful Crystal Waddell, who led the Bears to an unbeaten regular season and another deep run in the state 3-A playoffs. Giles has been playing and coaching the sport since the age of 10, but this is her first try at being head coach. "It's a new group of girls,'' she said. "We have three or four that were on the team last year and had some playing time. "We're having a look at the junior varsity girls coming and stepping up,'' she said. "I know they can do it. We have to build that relationship with each other and get them on the same page.'' Sisters Emily and Sydney Bresee head the list of returnees for the Bears. "They practice together and play together,'' Giles said. "Our libero Natalie Blanchard has also been shining. She's playing out of this work.'' One challenge for Giles is getting to know the rest of the new Patriot Conference competition since she's new to the area. "We played in the Jack Britt jamboree, and I got to see a little bit,'' she said. "My JV coach, Kellie Aldridge, has been around and seen the girls play through the volleyball world in Fayetteville.'' Giles said her goal for the season is to be solid and consistent. That's what Bruner's done at Cape Fear as he con- tinues to build the same kind of program he once enjoyed at Pine Forest. The Colts are coming off a Mid-South 4-A Conference title, going unbeaten in league play. "We lost two important spots, but we have seven returners,'' he said. "We've changed our defense to fit this new mold. We're kind of still figuring it out, but we feel pretty confident.'' Defense has always been a focus for Bruner, and he expects that will be critical for success this year. Cheyenne Hill is the only senior on the team, which got off to a strong start the first week of the volleyball season with wins over Jack Britt and Terry Sanford, a pair of traditional volleyball powers in the county. "We knew we were going to be playing two or three very tough conference games right at the start,'' Bruner said. "We were ready.'' Volleyball Preview by EARL VAUGHAN JR. Soccer Preview by EARL VAUGHAN JR. Emily Bresee Cheyenne Hill Sydney Bresee Terry Sanford, Pine Forest and Fayetteville Academy all enjoyed good soccer seasons a year ago. The way things look on paper, they're likely to do it again this year. Terry Sanford did lose so me key players to graduation, but head coach Karl Molnar thinks there is potential on this year's Bulldog squad. "We've got a little bit of time to get these guys on the same sheet of music,'' Molnar said. "Jared Miller is coming back. He had phenomenal years as a fresh- man and sophomore. And we've got the regional goalkeeper of the year back in Thomas Rogers. So we've got some pieces there.'' Molnar expects the Bulldogs will be underestimated by all of their opponents, and agrees they should be. "We're very young,'' he said. Pine Forest coach Isaac Rancour expects his team to benefit from a gradual maturing process. "We've got a good group of seniors coming back and we're pretty heavy with juniors this year,'' he said. "I think we're really well-rounded. We're looking for everyone to step up and fulfill their responsibility.'' The versatile Isaiah Bennett, who is also a star base- ball player for the Trojans, leads the group of returners for Rancour. "I think we're going to have a good year if we can reach that potential,'' Rancour said. Fayetteville Academy coach Andrew McCarthy rarely rebuilds but frequently reloads. Although he's got a young team, this looks like one of those reloading years. "Drayton Smith has been with us two years,'' McCarthy said. "He's a tough kid, a hard-working kid. He's going to be a captain.'' Victor Jones is also in his second year with the Eagles. "He's worked hard on his fitness and looks like a differ- ent player,'' McCarthy said. "We're expecting big things from him.'' Freshman Hudson Zeisman has been leading the offense early for the Eagles. "He'll get after it and always gives it 100 percent,'' McCarthy said. Cortez Herring has been playing for a club team in Raleigh and has made a lot of improvement. "Technically he's fantastic,'' McCarthy said. "If he just pushes a little more he could be a real big-time player.'' Isaiah Bennett Drayton Smith Hudson Zeisman & PRESENT OUR WEEKLY LINE UP 6-8pm WCLN 107.3 CAPE FEAR HIGH SCHOOL COACH'S SHOW 8-9pm @ 301 Wingz, 407 Eastern Blvd Airing on WGQR 105.7 Bill Boyette w/ Coach Jacob Thomas TERRY SANFORD HIGH SCHOOL COACH'S SHOW 8-9pm @ Spinners, 2805 Raeford Rd Airing on WCLN 107.3 Trey Edge w/ Coach Bruce McClellan Coaches Corner w/ Don Koonce 105.7 starting @ 6:00pm 107.3 starting @ 6:00pm Followed by LIVE to The Fields 71st HS @ Cape Fear HS on 105.7 Kick off at 7:30pm Jack Britt HS @ Terry Sanford HS on 107.3 Kick off at 7:30pm Ending with Scoreboard w/ Sonny Jones MONDAY 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 FRIDAY 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 WEDNESDAY

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