Fraternal twins play a crucial part in Panthers’ volleyball success this season

Published 6:07 pm Friday, September 20, 2024

By Jason O. Boyd

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YEATESVILLE, N.C. – Mollie and Mallorie Cook-Coltrain are fraternal twins, seniors on the Northside High School volleyball team. Their similarities don’t end there.

Both have been vital parts of the program while they’ve been in high school. They each participated in ballet – something Mollie still does – and credited it with helping them move and react quickly on the volleyball court. With their play, they’ve been big reasons why the Panthers are off to a solid start this season.

Despite a loss to Pamlico County in Thursday’s battle for first place in the Coastal Plains 1-A/2-A Conference, the Panthers sport a 10-2 record overall, 3-1 in the league. Their only other loss was at Bear Grass Charter. They got revenge on the Bears when they came to Yeatesville, something Northside hopes to repeat when it goes to Pamlico County later in the season.

Well, they mean a lot,” Northside head coach Michelle Leathers said before Thursday’s game. “There’s some balls, I don’t think … Mallorie and Mel have been able to get those balls and dig them out and hit. They’re hitting better than I’ve seen them hit in the last three years.

“They’re hitting better and we need them defensively. They can get some balls that some other people can’t get.”

The fraternal twins are one behind the other in the floor rotation. With players like Madison Scheffler and others on the court, they combine to make an exciting group that are quick to the ball, strong on the net on defense and returns and rack up points quickly with solid serves.

Mollie and Mallorie each said ballet helped with their quickness and agility on the court. Volleyball is a sport they each enjoy and prove it with their grace and mobility with and away from the ball.

“We used to both do it,” Mollie said. “(Mallorie) did it, I’ve done it more than she did and I liked it more, but she did it as well. But it does help a lot with being quick on your feet and being able to move fast.”

“I would say it helps a lot with balance too,” Mallorie said. “Because, especially if you hit and you’re getting close to the line, a lot of times you have to pull yourself back to the other side so you don’t cross that line.”

Both have a love of volleyball and said their mother encouraged them to play at just about every level leading up to high school. They both worked their way to get playing time on the team but also watched as older athletes played the roles they are now.

“Like, this year, I really got my chance to come out here,” Mollie said about her increased play this season. “Like, I’ve never hit before. So I was always libero for my freshman and sophomore years.

“So this year I started hitting and last year a little bit. I’ve liked it a lot.”

“Yeah, I started off as a setter and I had to sit and watch,” Mallorie said about her early high school career. “And it definitely helped me learn the game more because when you’re watching, you get to see what spots are open a lot.”

Their play and hustle on the court have led to a great start to the season. The team seems to be enjoying it all, too. From always talking between points to celebrations for blocks or kills, the group has high aspirations for continued success both in the regular season and in the postseason.

“I want us to have a good year and just make good memories with each other,” Mallorie said.

“Yeah, I think our expectations and, like, we’re just thriving to get all the way to the end and make it as far as we can,” Mollie said.

Leathers agrees and is happy with the way both have performed so far this season.

“Their action and they’re calling for the balls and being a leader for the JV and talking to them and trying to correct them,” Leathers said. “Good girls, good girls.”

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