Warlassies tested, remain undefeated
Owen dispatches Polk County, 3-1, in conference clash
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
August 29, 2025
The stage was set, Aug. 28, for a Western Highlands Conference clash in the Owen High School gymnasium, where defending 1A state champion Polk County came to the Swannanoa Valley to face the undefeated home team.
What began as an early test ended with the Warlassies improving to 6-0, following a 3-1 victory over the Wolverines.
The Owen volleyball program hosted its largest crowd of the season, including an animated student section dressed in accordance with its fraternity house theme. While the home fans witnessed the Warlassies drop their first set of the season, 16-25, to open the contest, the players were not deterred.
Led by juniors Adeline West, Ava Grant, Mia Roland, Kenzie Robinson and senior Gracyn Farish, the Warlassies responded with a 25-15 win in the second set and a 25-20 victory in the third, before claiming the final frame, 25-16.
The contest marked an important beginning to play in the realigned 2A/3A conference, which includes Owen, Polk County, Mountain Heritage Madison and Hendersonville among its 3A members and Avery County and Mitchell competing under the 2A classification.
“This is a match we’ve obviously had on our minds since we learned Polk was coming back to our conference this season,” third-year head coach Nikki Hinson said. “I told the girls to just be us, play our game and do what we do. We knew this was going to be a tough game, so it was important for us to come out here and be ready to keep fighting.”
Winners of 18 of the 19 sets they have played this season, the Warlassies were in unfamiliar territory to open the night against a versatile Wolverines attack. The experience of being down by as many as 10 points in the first set motivated the players, according to Roland, one of two team captains.
“We knew this match wasn’t going to be easy, but at the end of the day, this game is best three out of five,” she said. “There was plenty of game left after that set, so it gave us a chance to refocus and come out ready to go five sets if we needed to.”
How the players responded to the early Polk County onslaught was encouraging to West.
“We kept talking to and reassuring each other,” she said. “We knew this was still our game, and none of this was anything we hadn’t done before.”
The encouragement of a vocal student section, seated near the Owen bench, boosted the players on the court, West added.
“They gave us an added fire, because you really want to play well in front of all of these people and win,” she said. “I hope they keep coming all season.”
Playing a strong program that has collected back-to-back state titles forced the Warlassies to adapt their approach, according to Roland.
“If a game goes deep enough, a lot of players start to get tired,” she said. “We had to play a smart game, try to find any little inch of space to get the ball into, and try to wear them down if this match went long enough.”
The matchup proved to be a challenge at the net for West in the middle hitter position.
“I’ve been getting triple-blocked these last few games, so that can be tough mentally,” she said. “But, I try to be smart and get around the block, so at the end of the day, even if I can’t hit the ball, I can still find ways to get points.”
Watching her team recover from a difficult start offered the Owen head coach a new perspective on this year’s squad.
“They were able to settle down, and that’s the first time we had been down like that this year,” Hinson said. “I wanted them to show that they could fight every second for this win, and I was really happy to see them do that.”
A shared passion for the game and winning tough matches will be a key factor in extending their current streak, according to Roland.
“I think this win builds our confidence a little bit, and it shows how much potential we have and what our future could look like,” she said. “We can use that to motivate us to keep getting better.”
The Warlassies will return to their home court at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 2, when they host 4-2 Avery County.
Players and coaches have to “continue putting in the work,” according to Hinson, if the program wants to continue its best start in decades.
“This is a good start, but we have to keep working and not take anything for granted,” she said. “Now, we can see what and who can be, and we really want to reach that this year.”
Photos of Owen’s 3-1 victory over Western Highlands Conference opponent Polk County can be viewed int he gallery at the top of the page.