By Chatham Journal Sports
Buies Creek, NC – For much of Friday evening, October 30, the Seaforth High School girls volleyball team appeared headed toward another disappointing conclusion to an otherwise outstanding season. Trailing defending champion Hickory by two sets in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 5A state championship, the Hawks faced the prospect of a straight-set defeat in their third consecutive appearance in a state final.
Instead, Seaforth mounted a remarkable comeback.
Behind 30 kills from senior outside hitter Ally Forbes, 46 assists from senior setter Abigail Valgus and 36 digs from sophomore Isabelle Valgus, the Hawks rallied to win the third and fourth sets, overcoming a match point in the fourth to force a decisive fifth.
The championship ultimately came down to three points.
Hickory, led by 31 kills and 24 digs from senior Emmi Gambill, captured the deciding set 15-12 to defeat Seaforth 3-2 and claim its second consecutive 5A state championship at Campbell University’s Gilbert Craig Gore Arena.
The final set scores were 25-21, 25-20, 21-25, 24-26 and 15-12 in Hickory’s favor.
Seaforth completed its season with a 24-5 record, while Hickory finished 38-2.
For the Hawks, the loss was heartbreaking but hardly a reflection of surrender. After falling behind by two sets against one of the state’s strongest programs, Seaforth pushed the defending champions to the final moments of the match.
For Hickory, the victory represented another milestone in a remarkable two-year championship run. The Red Tornadoes defeated Seaforth in the 2025 state final and repeated the accomplishment in an even more competitive rematch.
The result left Seaforth with a third consecutive state runner-up finish, a remarkable achievement for a school that opened only six years ago and has quickly established itself as one of North Carolina’s leading volleyball programs.
Friday’s contest was both a championship showdown and a demonstration of the talent, determination and competitiveness that have come to define the Hawks’ program.
2026 NCHSAA 5A state championship: Final results
| Set | Seaforth | Hickory | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | 25 | Hickory |
| 2 | 20 | 25 | Hickory |
| 3 | 25 | 21 | Seaforth |
| 4 | 26 | 24 | Seaforth |
| 5 | 12 | 15 | Hickory |
First set: Seaforth starts fast before Hickory responds
The championship began with Seaforth delivering the first major statement.
The Hawks surged to a 12-3 lead, using aggressive attacking and strong early execution to put Hickory under immediate pressure.
Forbes was at the center of the opening surge.
The senior outside hitter, who has been one of Seaforth’s most productive players throughout the season, repeatedly challenged Hickory’s defense with powerful attacks.
Her early performance helped the Hawks establish a nine-point advantage and suggested that Seaforth might be capable of reversing the result of the previous year’s championship.
But the Red Tornadoes responded with a scoring run that dramatically changed the direction of the opening set.
Hickory won 12 of the next 13 points, turning a 12-3 deficit into a 15-13 advantage.
The surge demonstrated why the defending champions had compiled one of the state’s strongest records.
Rather than allowing Seaforth’s early success to dictate the remainder of the match, Hickory adjusted and began producing points through its own offensive weapons.
Senior Piper Jillings and senior Kira Morin provided important contributions as the Red Tornadoes regained momentum.
Gambill, the most valuable player of the 2025 championship match, also established herself as a dominant offensive presence.
She recorded seven kills in the opening set, helping Hickory overcome Seaforth’s fast start.
Consecutive kills from Jillings and Gambill pushed Hickory ahead 21-17 during the closing stages.
The Red Tornadoes completed the comeback with a 25-21 victory.
For Seaforth, the result was particularly disappointing because of the commanding early lead.
The Hawks had demonstrated that they could score effectively against Hickory, but the Red Tornadoes’ sustained response erased that advantage.
The first set also established a theme that would continue throughout the match: neither team could assume that a substantial lead was safe.
Seaforth had opened with a nine-point advantage but still lost by four.
That sudden reversal illustrated the importance of maintaining consistency against a championship-caliber opponent.
It also placed additional pressure on the Hawks entering the second set.
Rather than holding a 1-0 advantage, Seaforth needed to recover against an opponent that had already demonstrated an ability to produce extended scoring runs.
Second set: Hickory takes command behind Gambill and Morin
The second set initially offered Seaforth an opportunity to regain control.
The Hawks established another early advantage, moving ahead by four points before Hickory again began to respond.
Gambill played a central role in the Red Tornadoes’ recovery.
Her attacking ability forced Seaforth to defend multiple powerful opportunities, while her presence at the net helped reduce the Hawks’ advantage.
Gambill produced a block that brought Hickory within one point, then added two kills that helped move the Red Tornadoes into the lead near the midpoint of the set.
The teams continued battling, and the score eventually reached 18-18.
At that stage, the second set remained undecided.
But Hickory once again produced its strongest volleyball during the closing points.
Jillings delivered an important block to break the tie, providing the Red Tornadoes with a narrow advantage.
Morin followed with consecutive kills, helping Hickory build the momentum necessary to finish the set.
The Red Tornadoes closed on a 7-2 run, winning 25-20 and taking a two-set lead.
Hickory now needed only one more set to repeat as state champion.
For Seaforth, the challenge had become substantially more difficult.
The Hawks were facing a team that had repeatedly responded to their early advantages and had demonstrated exceptional composure in the closing stages of both sets.
To win the championship, Seaforth would need three consecutive set victories.
That possibility required more than strong offensive production.
It demanded sustained defensive execution, disciplined serving and the ability to resist Hickory’s scoring runs.
The Hawks had already shown during the regular season and playoffs that they were capable of recovering from difficult situations.
Most notably, Seaforth had rallied from a two-set deficit to defeat Orange in five sets during an October 6 conference match.
They also survived a five-set playoff thriller against Orange on October 22, winning the deciding set 15-5 after surrendering an early 2-0 advantage.
Those experiences did not guarantee another comeback, particularly against the defending state champions.
But they provided evidence that Seaforth could continue competing even when the circumstances appeared unfavorable.
Friday’s third set would determine whether the Hawks could draw upon that experience and extend their season.
Third set: Abigail Valgus leads Seaforth’s comeback
With their season one set away from ending, the Hawks responded by playing some of their best volleyball of the championship.
Seaforth moved ahead 7-6 early in the third set and maintained its advantage for the remainder of the frame.
The performance represented an important change from the first two sets.
Instead of building an advantage and allowing Hickory to recover, the Hawks established a narrow lead and successfully protected it.
Abigail Valgus was instrumental in the turnaround.
The senior setter produced five kills and 12 assists during the third set, demonstrating her ability to influence the match both as an offensive organizer and a direct scoring threat.
Valgus’ performance was especially significant because Hickory had already demonstrated its ability to defend Seaforth’s outside attacks.
By contributing kills herself, Valgus provided another option that required Hickory’s blockers to adjust.
Her 12 assists also reflected Seaforth’s improved offensive execution.
Effective setting allows hitters to attack from more favorable positions and reduces the predictability of an offense.
Against a team as experienced as Hickory, that variety was particularly valuable.
Forbes continued to attack, while the other Hawks helped sustain rallies and kept the Red Tornadoes from generating the scoring runs that had defined the first two sets.
Seaforth eventually closed the third set 25-21.
The victory reduced Hickory’s lead to 2-1 and ensured that the championship would continue into a fourth set.
More importantly, the performance demonstrated that the Hawks could sustain a lead against the defending champions.
The third set also changed the emotional trajectory of the match.
Hickory had entered it needing only 25 points to secure the championship.
Instead, the Red Tornadoes now faced an opponent that had recovered its rhythm and was beginning to create problems on both sides of the net.
For Seaforth, the comeback remained incomplete, but the path forward was clear.
Another set victory would force a decisive fifth set, reducing the entire championship to a race to 15 points.
Fourth set: Forbes leads an extraordinary rally from match point
The fourth set produced the most dramatic moments of the evening.
With Seaforth fighting to preserve its season, Forbes delivered one of the defining performances of her high school career.
The senior outside hitter recorded nine kills during the fourth set, repeatedly providing offensive production against Hickory’s defense.
But even with Forbes’ contributions, the Hawks found themselves in serious danger.
Hickory reached match point, placing the Red Tornadoes one rally away from their second consecutive state championship.
At that moment, Seaforth faced the possibility that its extraordinary season would end without another opportunity to compete.
Instead, the Hawks produced one final surge.
Seaforth won five consecutive points, erasing Hickory’s match-point advantage and capturing the fourth set 26-24.
The comeback was remarkable both for its timing and for the pressure surrounding it.
In a regular-season contest, recovering from a late deficit can provide an important victory.
In a state championship match, recovering from match point means preserving an entire season.
The Hawks had already overcome the disappointment of losing the first two sets.
They had successfully extended the match by winning the third.
Now, with the championship seemingly slipping away, they demonstrated that they could perform under the greatest pressure of the evening.
Forbes’ nine fourth-set kills highlighted her ability to produce against a defense that knew she would be a central offensive target.
Her performance also reinforced the importance of experienced players in championship situations.
The senior had competed in previous state finals and understood both the demands of the stage and the consequences of the result.
Seaforth’s comeback did not guarantee a championship, but it transformed the contest.
What had appeared headed toward a Hickory sweep had become a winner-take-all fifth set.
The Hawks had earned one more opportunity.
For the players, coaches and supporters inside Gore Arena, the final set would determine whether Seaforth could complete an extraordinary comeback or whether Hickory would retain the title.
Fifth set: Hickory delivers the decisive points
The fifth set began with the championship completely undecided.
Under standard high school volleyball scoring, the deciding set is played to 15 points, with the winning team required to finish at least two points ahead.
The shortened format intensifies the importance of each rally.
A three- or four-point run can become decisive, particularly when both teams have already spent four sets battling for momentum.
Seaforth remained competitive throughout the early portion of the fifth set.
The Hawks eventually moved ahead 10-9, putting themselves within five points of the state championship.
At that moment, the title was within reach.
But Hickory responded through one of its most productive players.
Morin delivered a kill to tie the set 10-10.
She then joined Jillings for a block that helped Hickory move ahead 12-10.
Gambill followed with another important kill, strengthening the Red Tornadoes’ advantage.
Seaforth continued competing, but Hickory had regained the momentum at the most consequential point of the evening.
On championship point, Jillings and Eliese Moreau combined at the net to stop a Seaforth attack.
The block completed Hickory’s 15-12 victory and secured the state championship.
For the Red Tornadoes, the final point produced a celebration of consecutive championships.
For Seaforth, it ended an extraordinary comeback just three points short of the title.
The deciding set illustrated the narrow margin separating the two teams.
Seaforth had rallied from two sets down, survived match point and held a late 10-9 lead.
Hickory nevertheless produced the decisive plays when the championship was on the line.
The Red Tornadoes’ combination of timely attacking and blocking proved enough to preserve their title.
Seaforth championship match statistical leaders
| Player | Performance |
|---|---|
| Ally Forbes | 30 kills, 14 digs, 1 ace |
| Abigail Valgus | 46 assists, 9 kills, 18 digs, 3 blocks |
| Isabelle Valgus | 36 digs, 5 aces |
| Sarah Beth Smith | 16 kills, 20 digs, 1 ace |
| Ella Fuller | 16 digs, 2 aces |
| Emira Leonard | 4 kills, 3 digs, 1 block |
Forbes’ 30 kills highlighted the Hawks’ offensive performance.
The senior outside hitter was responsible for several of the most important attacking sequences of the evening, particularly during the opening and fourth sets.
Her seven first-set kills helped Seaforth establish an early advantage.
Her nine fourth-set kills contributed to the comeback that kept the Hawks’ championship hopes alive.
Abigail Valgus was equally important to the offense.
Her 46 assists provided the foundation for much of Seaforth’s attacking production, while her nine kills demonstrated her versatility.
The senior setter also contributed 18 digs and three blocks.
Isabelle Valgus anchored the defense with 36 digs and five service aces in the fuller reported statistics.
Her production helped Seaforth extend rallies against Hickory’s powerful offensive attack.
Smith added 16 kills and 20 digs, demonstrating her ability to contribute as both a hitter and defender.
Fuller supplied another 16 digs, while Leonard added four kills and a block.
Together, the performances reflected the Hawks’ balanced production.
Although Forbes was the team’s leading attacker, Seaforth relied on multiple players to stay competitive against Hickory.
The Hawks’ defensive effort was particularly important against a team that produced 31 kills from Gambill alone.
Every successful dig and extended rally created another opportunity for Seaforth to score.
That collective effort helped the Hawks overcome their two-set deficit and push the championship into its final stages.
Hickory’s Emmi Gambill earns MVP honors with 31 kills
Named the NCHSAA championship match MVP for the second consecutive year.
Gambill’s performance was one of the defining elements of Hickory’s victory.
The senior recorded 31 kills and 24 digs while earning the championship’s most valuable player award for the second straight season.
Her production was particularly important because Seaforth repeatedly challenged Hickory with scoring runs and aggressive attacking.
Gambill’s contributions helped the Red Tornadoes recover from an early 12-3 deficit and establish control during the first two sets.
Morin supplied additional offensive production, finishing with 15 kills, 12 digs and four service aces. Six of her kills came during the deciding fifth set, according to HighSchoolOT.
Jillings contributed eight kills, 26 assists and 21 digs, helping Hickory maintain offensive balance throughout the match.
Ella Stephens added 25 assists, giving the Red Tornadoes two productive setters.
Hickory’s combination of attacking strength, defensive consistency and championship experience proved decisive.
The Red Tornadoes had waited nearly 50 years to win their first state volleyball championship in 2025. They needed only one more season to capture their second.
For Hickory’s senior class, the accomplishment concluded a remarkable four-year run in which the team compiled a 110-20 record.
The championship also marked an emotional conclusion for coach Jason Stephens.
Following the victory, Stephens confirmed that the contest was his 385th and final match coaching Hickory.
The Red Tornadoes therefore celebrated not only another state title but also the conclusion of an influential coaching tenure.
Forbes receives sportsmanship award after final high school match
Despite the disappointment of the defeat, Seaforth received additional recognition during the championship ceremony.
Forbes was selected as one of the recipients of the NCHSAA Farm Bureau Sportsmanship Award.
Hickory’s Ella Kate Stewart received the corresponding honor for the Red Tornadoes.
The recognition provided a fitting conclusion to Forbes’ high school career.
The senior has been central to Seaforth’s offensive success and will continue her volleyball career at Gardner-Webb University.
Her performance in the championship demonstrated the qualities that have made her an important part of the Hawks’ program.
Beyond the 30 kills, she remained productive during some of the match’s most difficult stretches.
She helped Seaforth build an early advantage, contributed heavily to the fourth-set comeback and continued competing throughout the deciding set.
Following the championship, Forbes spoke about the expectations established by the program.
“We always knew that a state championship was the goal,” Forbes told HighSchoolOT.
She also emphasized the importance of younger players understanding the program’s competitive standard.
That perspective reflected the broader significance of Seaforth’s three consecutive state championship appearances.
Forbes and her fellow seniors will graduate without having secured the state title they pursued, but they leave behind a program with an established tradition of postseason success.
Three consecutive state finals establish an extraordinary record
Seaforth’s defeat should be considered within the larger context of the school’s volleyball development.
The Hawks have reached three consecutive NCHSAA state championship matches, an achievement that places the program among the state’s most consistently successful teams during that period.
They reached the 2A championship match in 2024 before moving into the 5A classification in 2025.
Seaforth returned to the championship match that year, falling to Hickory in four sets.
The 2026 rematch produced an even closer result, with the Hawks forcing five sets before losing by three points in the deciding frame.
Head coach Scott Green has guided the program through that progression.
The Hawks’ success has required continued development despite graduating players and adjusting to new competition.
Nine of the 13 players on Seaforth’s championship roster were freshmen or sophomores.
That detail is particularly significant for the program’s future.
Although Seaforth graduates important seniors, including Forbes and Abigail Valgus, the team retains a substantial group of young players who have now experienced a state championship match.
Those players will enter future seasons with an understanding of the demands of postseason competition.
They have experienced the intensity of regional championship matches, the pressure of facing defending state champions and the difficulty of closing out closely contested sets.
The experience does not guarantee future success.
Replacing the production and leadership of graduating seniors will present a considerable challenge.
But the Hawks’ younger athletes have already participated in one of the state’s highest levels of competition, providing a foundation for continued development.
Seaforth’s 2026 playoff run also demonstrated the team’s ability to respond under pressure.
The Hawks advanced through the eastern bracket with victories over South Granville, Orange, Person and Cedar Ridge.
Their five-set victory over Orange required a strong deciding-set performance, while the regional championship victory over Cedar Ridge demonstrated their ability to control an important match against a familiar rival.
Those results provided the opportunity to face Hickory again.
Although the final outcome was disappointing, the season reinforced Seaforth’s position as a leading program in North Carolina high school volleyball.
A championship slips away, but Seaforth’s legacy continues
The final result will remain painful for Seaforth’s players and coaches.
After falling behind two sets to none, the Hawks fought back to force a fifth set and came within three points of winning the state championship.
Their comeback was made possible by exceptional individual performances and a collective determination to continue competing even when defeat appeared imminent.
Forbes delivered 30 kills in her final high school match. Abigail Valgus recorded 46 assists, while Isabelle Valgus and Sarah Beth Smith contributed important defensive and offensive production.
Hickory ultimately prevailed behind Gambill’s 31 kills and Morin’s decisive fifth-set performance.
The result gave the Red Tornadoes a second consecutive state championship and ended Seaforth’s season at 24-5.
But the Hawks’ accomplishments extend beyond Friday’s final score.
They won another eastern regional championship, advanced to a third consecutive state final and demonstrated the ability to challenge one of North Carolina’s most successful volleyball programs.
For Seaforth’s seniors, the season marked the conclusion of careers that helped establish a championship standard.
For the younger players, it provided valuable experience and a clear objective for the future.
For the Pittsboro community, the Hawks’ success represented another opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of local student-athletes.
A state title remained just beyond their reach.
Yet the effort required to rally from a two-set deficit, survive match point and push the defending champions to the final moments offered a lasting example of competitive determination.
Seaforth did not leave Campbell University with the championship trophy. The Hawks left with another regional title, a third consecutive state runner-up finish and a foundation for future teams to build upon.