Gaston College excited to host Region 10 championships on Saturday

Gaston College will be able to show off its campus and its only on-campus athletic venue this Saturday when the Rhinos host the 2024 Region 10 championships at their five-net complex.

"This venue, especially when we put a few more things in place like restrooms and some shade structures will be the go-to venue in the state,"
Gaston College coach Rachel Noreika said. "Being able to host the Region 10 championships is really special."

For the Rhinos, it also affords a chance to advance to a second straight National Junior College Athletic Association championship tournament as the top three teams on Saturday qualify for the May 2 through 4 event in Huntsville, Ala.

"I think we're ready," Noreika said. "We're super excited for the opportunity to host it here and we're anxious and ready to compete for a title."

The Rhinos finished 7-19 overall but that record is deceiving in that 16 of those losses came to four-year schools and the other three came against Region 10 regular season champion Richard Bland.

The pairs of Valentina Rodriguez and Cristina Rotola (11) and Naomi Hilliard and Maddie Dearing (9) have racked up the most victories this season for Gaston College.

Noreika's team last spring became the school's first-ever NJCAA national championship tournament participant when its finished 10th in the inaugural beach volleyball championship tournament in Tavares, Fla.

2024 Region 10 standings:

1. Richard Bland (6-0, 18-11)
2. Gaston College (5-3, 7-19)
3. Sandhills CC (2-3, 10-14)
4. Wake Tech (1-4, 1-21)
5. Spartanburg Methodist (0-4, 2-13)

Saturday's schedule:
No. 5 Spartanburg Methodist vs. No. 4 Wake Tech, 9 a.m.
No. 5-4 winner vs. No. 1 Richard Bland, 11 a.m.
No. 3 Sandhills CC vs. No. 2 Gaston College, 1 p.m.
3rd place - 11 a.m. loser vs. 1 p.m. loser, 3 p.m.
Championship - 11 a.m. winner vs. 1 p.m. winner, 5 p.m.
(Note: Winner of 3 p.m. game and both teams in 5 p.m. game advance to NJCAA nationals May 2-4 in Huntsville, Ala.)