Ardrey Kell's volleyball season is over after a 3-1 loss at West Forsyth in the NCHSAA 8A regional final on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
The Knights finished 20-12 overall and 6-4 in the Southwestern 7A/8A conference, according to MaxPreps. They placed second in conference play and earned a playoff berth that carried them deep into the NCHSAA bracket.
Ardrey Kell swept all three of its earlier playoff opponents without dropping a set. The Knights beat South Mecklenburg 3-0 on Saturday, Oct. 17, then topped East Mecklenburg 3-0 on Tuesday, Oct. 20, and dispatched Hough 3-0 on Thursday, Oct. 22.
West Forsyth proved a tougher matchup. The Titans had already beaten Ardrey Kell 3-0 in a regular-season meeting on Saturday, Sept. 26, and the regional final followed a similar script. West Forsyth took the match in four sets, ending the Knights' run one round short of the state championship at Campbell University.
The NCHSAA lists state championship matches for Oct. 30-31. West Forsyth will face Green Level in the 8A title match at 7:30 p.m., according to the Charlotte Observer.
The loss marked the end of a season that saw the Knights go 9-3 at home and 10-5 on the road. Ardrey Kell opened the year with wins over Porter Ridge and Cox Mill in August, then navigated a challenging nonconference schedule that included tournaments against Wando, Nation Ford and Gray Collegiate Academy.
Conference play brought tight battles with area rival Ballantyne Ridge. The Knights beat the Lions 3-0 on Sept. 15 but lost 3-0 at Ballantyne Ridge on Oct. 1. Ardrey Kell avenged that loss with a 3-1 tournament win over the Lions on Oct. 13 before launching its playoff push.
Individual set scores from Tuesday's regional final were not available as of publication. No postgame comments from the Ardrey Kell coaching staff were available.
With the season complete, the Knights' attention turns to the offseason and the 2027-28 campaign.
