Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Cherryville, NC (WNN)- The Lady Ironmen closed out the regular season with a perfect week ending Oct 9th, 2025, winning all three matches. Every team wants to enter postseason play on a hot streak, and these young ladies are doing just that very thing. What a week it has been for volleyball. An exciting week filled with three victories, Coach Kiser earning her 200th career victory (now 201), and eight senior players closing out their home careers.
It is possible that a few of these ladies could reach career milestones before the end of the season. For now, the focus is on the Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A Conference Tournament.
Coach Leigh Kiser with her 200th win award - October 8th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
The week began on Monday, October 6th, when Piedmont Charter paid a visit to Nixon Gym. Although the Lady Ironmen would win the match 3-1, it was not as easy as they had hoped. Set one went well enough, winning 25-12, but things became a little tighter after that.
In Set 2, Charter came out strong, scoring the first three points and leading by as much as five. Cherryville pulled to within one point several times throughout the set, but could never take the lead, although they did battle back to tie it at 24-24. Unfortunately, that was as close as they would get as Piedmont Charter would go on to win this set 26-24.
The third set went better, Cherryville led by as many as 8 points and would win 25-18. The fourth and final set was not an easy one. A tight contest with the Lady Ironmen leading by six at one point. They held on for a 27-25 victory. “Our team came out sluggish but did just enough to pull out the victory”, said Coach Leigh Kiser.
On offense, Emily Allen had 34 assists, with 12 digs. Kennedy Weathers had 11 kills, and Kate Mulvey and Raylei Gidney each added 10 kills. Defensively, Kate Bookout had 15 digs, Camryn Shirley had 12 digs, and Jenna Anthony had five blocks.
The North Gaston Wildcats came to Cherryville on Wednesday, October 8th. Eight seniors were honored on this night as they were playing their last regular-season game in Nixon Gym. Coach Kiser was also chasing career victory #200. A good crowd was on hand to honor the seniors, cheer on the team, and see Coach Kiser chasing history.
CHS Lady Ironmen Volleyball - Cherryville's Nixon Gym - October 8th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
This was a non-conference match; however, that was inconsequential with so much else going on this night. After winning the first set 25-14, it appeared that the Lady Ironmen would have an easy night, but that was not the case in the second set. The Lady Wildcats jumped out to a big lead; however, Cherryville fought back to tie at 8-8. North Gaston would pull back ahead 17-9, and once again the Lady Ironmen would battle back.
CHS Lady Ironmen Volleyball - Cherryville's Nixon Gym - October 8th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
Unfortunately, they just could not overcome the lead and lost 25-19. Set three was a different story; Cherryville ran out to a 10-1 lead, then stretched it to 15-3. North Gaston was unable to mount a significant comeback, and CHS won this one 25-11. As set 4 began, Cherryville was leading the match 2 sets to 1. The gritty ladies of CHS looked determined to get their beloved coach her 200th win.
CHS Lady Ironmen Volleyball - Cherryville's Nixon Gym - October 8th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
This set was an epic battle, yet the ladies in white and blue were laying their all on the line. The set was tight early, going back and forth. After an early lead, they would fall behind 12-8. They were not deterred, if anything, more determined. Cherryville would tie the set at 12, then 17, and 19. After that, they found the momentum to put the Wildcats away.
CHS Lady Ironmen Volleyball - Cherryville's Nixon Gym - October 8th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
The fourth set was won by a score of 25-22. Fittingly, the set and match were ended with an ace being served. Cherryville had won 3-1, and Coach Leigh Kiser had hit the 200-career victory milestone. We covered this historic achievement in an earlier article. Team leaders were Emily Allen with 28 assists, Jenna Anthony with nine kills, and Kennedy Weathers with eight kills. There were 16 aces served, six from Camryn Shirley, and five each from Kate Bookout and Kate Mulvey.
CHS Lady Ironmen Volleyball - Cherryville's Nixon Gym - October 8th, 2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
Thursday, October 9th, the Lady Ironmen traveled to Bessemer City. This was senior night for Bessemer City, and they honored their seniors before the match. No matter what the sport, Bessemer City and Cherryville mean rivalry. The first set looked very much like a rivalry.
Both teams were playing hard. The Lady Jackets were looking to sting the Lady Ironmen early by jumping out to a 4-point lead. Cherryville was having none of that as they fought back and went ahead by 5. Bessemer City hung tough and retook the lead by 4 points. The Lady Ironmen would recapture the lead for good and end the set on a served ace. This set was won 25-22.
In the second set, Cherryville set the tone early, running off five straight points for the early lead. Bessemer City battled back before Cherryville took the lead for good. Several times the lead would be by as much as 9, which proved to be the winning margin, 25-16. Everything was clicking for CHS in the third set. They scored the first 6 points and never looked back. Cruising to a 16-point lead, the Lady Ironmen easily won this last set 25-9. The match was won 3-0.
Cherryville finishes the regular season on a three-game winning streak, improving its overall record to 14-8 and 8-8 in the conference. The conference tournament, with teams, sites, and times yet to be determined, is scheduled to begin on Monday, October 13th.
The team has plenty of momentum heading into the postseason, and we wish them the best as they begin their playoff run. Wise News Network will cover all the action.
Check out the Lady Ironmen Volleyball Senior Night Picture Gallery above!
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