Warlassies fall in second round stunner

Owen exits postseason early following 3-1 loss to Trinity

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
October 24, 2025

An unprecedented Owen volleyball season came to an abrupt end, Oct. 21, as the No. 2 seeded Warlassies were stunned in a 3-1 loss at home to No. 15 Trinity.

The contest marked the second loss of the season for Owen, which entered the NCHSAA 3A Volleyball Championship Tournament after the best regular season performance in the history of the program.

The Bulldogs, who finished their campaign in second pace in the Central Carolina Conference, came into the match three nights removed from a 3-2 victory over No. 18 seed Providence Grove in the opening round. The Warlassies took the court following a first-round bye.

The visiting team established an advantage midway through the opening set, outpacing Owen on its way to a 25-19 victory. Owen fell behind by as many as 12 points in the second set, as the Bulldogs seized a 2-0 advantage with 25-13 performance.

Owen battled back against Trinity to claim the third in a back-and-forth third set, closing the gap with a 26-24 victory, but the Bulldogs re-established momentum to close out the match with a 25-23 win.

The upset was difficult to accept for the junior-laden Warlassies, who dominated most opponents during their 20-2 campaign, but head coach Nikki Hinson encouraged her players to maintain perspective.

“It wasn’t the ending we hoped for, but at the end of the day, it’s just a game,” she said. “Volleyball is a game of mistakes, learning, pushing through and trusting the people beside you to have your back, pick you up and make you better. The sun will rise, and life will move on, butt he lessons we learned this season reach far beyond the court.”

The playoff loss did nothing to diminish the team’s regular season performance, she added.

“This was an incredible season, and I’m so thankful I got to be part of it,” Hinson said. “I can’t wait to get back in the gym, keep working in the offseason and build on what we’ve started. I hope this group carries that same spirit into the future of the volleyball program, throughout Owen Athletics, into our community and into everything the do moving forward. It’s about more than their talent, it’s their kindness, light and heart that make me proud.”

Photos of Owen volleyball’s second round playoff match against Trinity can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.