RED BIRD — Pineville’s assistant coach Jon North experienced a night he’ll never forget.
With his wife, head coach Samantha North, out sick, Jon stepped in and guided the Lady Mountain Lions to a thrilling five-set victory over Red Bird on Thursday.
The win not only marked his first varsity victory, but it also came on the same floor where he played his own high school varsity basketball career as a Red Bird Cardinal.
“It is always incredibly special when I go to Red Bird, but especially this time being trusted to handle coaching the varsity team,” North said. “I graduated from Red Bird, and I know it’s a different sport but coaching on the same sideline as John D. Wilson did is humbling because of how much he meant to be as a player and as a man.
“Our girls showed incredible grit, we got down 2-1 and never left a doubt after that,” he added. “Kaitlin has Red Bird playing so well, I know their record doesn’t reflect that, but if you look at their scores this season they’ve been in every game they’ve played. We took their best shot and got out of there with a win.
“I love coaching this team, a lot of them I have been coaching since sixth grade, and for them to be there with me for my first win was so fulfilling,” North continued. “I am blessed Sam trusted me enough with the program to let me coach through her sickness.”
The Lady Mountain Lions rallied after dropping the opening set 18-25. They responded with a 25-20 win in the second set before falling again 20-25 in the third. Facing a 2-1 deficit, Pineville dug deep, storming back with a dominant 25-10 fourth-set victory before closing out the decisive fifth set, 15-9.
The win pushed Pineville’s record to 8-8 on the season.
Pineville Leaders
Brynlee Sizemore: 11 kills, five service aces, five digs, two blocks Mckenna Turner: 10 kills Audrey Yates: 23 assists, three digs, two service aces Makayla Terrell: four kills, six digs, four service aces Emma Cupp: 10 service aces, four assists, three digs, four kills Jaycee Caldwell: seven kills, five blocks, one dig, one service ace Brooke Harris: one assist, eight digs, six service aces Makayla C.: four digs Mackenzie C.: four digs Gia Sturgill: three digs Isabella Adams: two service aces, one kill
