Abbey Volleyball

Belmont Abbey's Kay Schellenburg, left, and Caitlin Hankins jump to block as King's Summer Kremer spikes the ball during the Conference Carolinas Tournament quarterfinal at Belmont Abbey on Saturday November 10, 2012. 

Belmont Abbey's Kay Schellenburg jumps to block as King's Lauren Willoughby spikes the ball during the Conference Carolinas Tournament quarterfinal.

More soccer highlights

Ashbrook's Austin Johnson, left, and Fred T. Ford's Kenan Ruffner head the ball simultaneously on Saturday November 3, 2012 at Ashbrook.

Pfeiffer's Kaitlin Sampson jumps over her keeper Britt Polly as she dives on the ball ahead of a charge from Belmont Abbey's Ananda Gebreyesus during the Conference Carolinas Championship match at Belmont Abbey on Saturday November 3, 2012.

Belmont Abbey players Abby Walton, from left, Ashley Minda and Juliana Stalzer celebrate after their 1-0 victory over Pfeiffer in the Conference Carolinas Championship match at Belmont Abbey on Saturday November 3, 2012.

Soccer Action

North Greenville's Brooke Domingo reacts as Belmont Abbey players celebrate a goal by Ananda Gebreyesus during the soccer match at Belmont Abbey on Saturday October 6, 2012.

Lees-McRae goalkeeper Kaitlyn Briggs dives for the ball as Belmont Abbey's Ananda Gebreyesus attempts a shot on goal during the soccer match at Belmont Abbey on Wednesday September 26, 2012.

Basketball Highlights

Highland Tech's Josh Neely, bottom, wins a rebound over Hayesville's Weston Jordan during the NCHSAA Western Regional semifinal game in the UNC-Greensboro Fleming Gymnasium on Wednesday February 29, 2012.

I don't have any statistics to back this up, but I believe that this past season I covered the fewest basketball games of any year since I began working for a newspaper. That's partly because there were only a few good teams this year, but mostly because The Gazette had more stringers than ever covering games. 

The highlight for me was definitely Highland Tech in the NCHSAA Western Regional Semifinal in Greensboro. I've said it before, but the Fleming Gymnasium at UNCG is a fantastic venue for basketball. 

They have broadcast lighting, ample room to move around on the sidelines, and a balcony over one of the baskets. 

Did I mention they have a balcony over one of the baskets? 

This type of shot is something you typically only see from NBA and major college games in arenas with a catwalk. And even then rarely, since it requires some special access, planning and time to pull it off. 

But if you can get it, it's always worth it. Since much of the peak action of a basketball game is under the rim, with players looking up, this lets you get all the facial expressions instead of armpit.  

Hayesville's Justin Gonyea, left, and Clint Coleman guard Highland Tech's Jevon Patton in the final minutes of the NCHSAA Western Regional semifinal.

Highland Tech's Joe Deese, clockwise from top, Hayesville's Weston Jordan, Highland's Robert McMillion-El and Hayesville's Hunter Lewis jump after a rebound during the NCHSAA Western Regional semifinal.

Belmont Abbey's Paula Regalado and Limestone's Kaileigh West jump after a rebound during the game at Belmont Abbey on Friday February 24, 2012.

Belmont Abbey's Darryl Durham and Limestone's Phillip Moultrie jump for a rebound during the game at Belmont Abbey on Friday February 24, 2012. 

Busy Keeper

Brevard goalkeeper Crissy Moran leaps high but fails to stop a goal shot by Belmont Abbey's Carly Kensinger during the game at Belmont Abbey on Tuesday October 4, 2011. Below: Moran dives for the ball as Belmont Abbey's Ananda Gebreyesus prepares to take a shot. 

Bill's Race

Runners take off at the start of the "Bill's Race" 5K and walk at Belmont Abbey College on Sunday April 17, 2011. The race honors the school's late track coach Bill Hodge, who passed away in the fall, with proceeds going to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Bobbie James celebrates after finishing the "Bill's Race" 5K and walk with her dog Abbey.

Catherine Hodge Christman, from right, looks over a scrapbook of track photos with track athletes Lauren Smith, Leondra Pridgen, Tasha Stewart and Jazz Samuel during a reception following the "Bill's Race" 5K and walk. The scrapbook was presented to the Hodge family along with a hat he often wore.

Think Pink 2011

Belmont Abbey's Kelsey Long shoots over the defense of Limestone's Tia Williams during the game on "Think Pink" night in the Wheeler Center on Thursday February 17, 2011. 

Belmont Abbey's Paula Regalado passes the ball to teammate Kelsey Long, left, during the game against Limestone.

Abbey vs Queens

Belmont Abbey's Tyshawn Good drives to the basket as Queens' Preston Newlin guards during the game in the Wheeler Center on Thursday January 13, 2011.

Igloo Party!

Belmont Abbey College students, including Jessica Simons, left, pack in the final pieces of snow to complete an igloo at the school on Monday January 10, 2011. After the igloo was complete it was large enough to accommodate 13 seated or kneeling people.

Marielle McLaurin emerges from the nearly complete igloo.

Conference Carolinas Championship

Pfeiffer players celebrate after Belmont Abbey's Connie Axiotis, right, missed an overtime penalty kick giving the victory to Pfeiffer in the Conference Carolinas Championship match on Saturday November 6, 2010 at Alumni Field. 

Belmont Abbey's Rebecca Mateo wins a header during the match.

Full gallery at Gaston Gazette

A referee tries to break up a fight that broke out between Belmont Abbey and Pfeiffer players during the heated and emotional match.

Belmont Abbey goalkeeper Anna Donaldson attempts to block an overtime penalty kick.

Belmont Abbey players console one another after losing to Pfeiffer in overtime penalty kicks.

Abbey Men's Soccer

Limestone goal keeper H.B. Lockwood dives to make a save after Belmont Abbey's Gianluca D'Agata, right, took a shot on goal during the game at Alumni Field on Saturday October 30, 2010.

Abbey Volleyball

Belmont Abbey's Jennifer Angelich, above, makes a kill during a match against Mount Olive on Saturday October 2, 2010 in the Wheeler Center.

Belmont Abbey's Jamie O'Connell, from right, stands ready to make a dig as Lydia Schellenberg and Angela Jubb jump to block.

One thing I miss about working at the Rocky Mount Telegram is the diversity of sports we covered there. This is one of only two volleyball matches I've shot this year (and I'm the evening shift photographer), where I had been shooting 1-3 games a week this time of year in Rocky Mount.

The two papers have about the same size sports section, but The Gazette has NASCAR, Panthers and Bobcats to take up a lot of that space. I guess it all balances out, though. We didn't have any pro sports to shoot in Rocky Mount.