HOBGOOD – Lawrence Academy continued working its way through defending the league title.

The Lady Warriors, defending regular-season volleyball champions of the Tarheel Independent Conference, knocked off league heavyweight Hobgood Academy in four sets Tuesday. The victory, Lawrence’s fifth in the conference, came by counts of 25-16, 25-20, 23-25 and 26-24.

“Hobgood’s fans cheered them to a win in the third game,” Lawrence skipper Dr. Ed Clouse said. “In the fourth game, we got down 13-4 but rallied behind the defense of Shelby Zube and Danielle Davis, the setting of Debbie Stotesbury and Taylor Sexton, the hitting of Ashtyn Mizelle and the serving of Jennifer White.

“The girls dug down deep and never gave up,” he continued. “I could not be prouder of how they finished the match.”

Mizelle led the way for Lawrence with 19 kills, 12 digs and four aces while Stotesbury had 25 assists to go with six aces, six digs and two kills. Davis recorded 13 digs during the afternoon while adding three kills and four aces.

Zube had nine digs, two kills and two aces while Sexton chipped in three aces and one dig. Jennifer White’s stat line included seven digs, four kills, two aces and one block while Ashton Lyle had three digs to go with one block and one ace.

The win boosted Lawrence to 6-2 overall and 5-0 in the Tarheel Independent Conference.

In the junior varsity contest, Hobgood took a straight-set win over Lawrence. The Lady Raiders won 25-16 and 25-14. Lawrence was paced by four aces from Kim Northcott and three from Giovanna Conigliaro.

The Lady Warriors will travel to Pungo Christian Academy today (Thursday) for a key matchup in the league.