GHSA volleyball playoffs: What you need to know about Savannah-area teams in the first round
The state volleyball playoffs start this week, and a number of teams from the Greater Savannah area are ready to make a postseason run.
Savannah Christian, Savannah Arts and Richmond Hill enter the playoffs as No. 1 seeds. Here's a look at what's in store for area teams as the postseason begins.
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Richmond Hill volleyball on the rise Here's why Richmond Hill volleyball is primed to take the next step in Class 7A
CLASS 3A
Upson Lee (13-23) at Savannah Christian (30-8-3), Wednesday, time TBA
The Raiders won the Region 3-3A regular season title and took the region tournament last week with a 25-14, 25-19, 18-25, 25-21 win over St. Vincent's.
SCPS Coach Julie Jones is looking to win her 800th career match Wednesday as the Raiders host Upson Lee in a first-round matchup.
Maggie Kyriakides leads the squad with 331 kills and 46 aces and Reese Theriot has 137 kills. Remy Thompson leads a strong defense with 229 digs. Mary Brit Tallevast and Katie Cowart ran the Raiders' two setter offense well in the region tournament title game win over SVA with 14 assists each.
Mary Persons (14-19) at St. Vincent's (25-12-1), Wednesday, time TBA
The Saints have a young squad, but the team has come on strong with an impressive performance this year with setter Mary Sophia Fischer leading the way as the senior is averaging 7.5 assists per set.
Kaylyn Gill, Ford DeWitt and Briana Tuten have all had an impact as hitters on a team with a diverse attack.
Calvary Day (18-15) at Pike County (18-8), Wednesday, time TBA
The Cavaliers have been playing well under first-year coach Brooke Cameron. Taylor Kennedy, Kinsey Prado and Hanna VanderBrink have been standouts for the Cavs.
Savannah Country Day (19-19) at Jackson (20-10), Wednesday, time TBA
The Hornets enter the playoffs as the No. 4 seed out of Region 3-3A and will hit the road to face Jackson.
Freshman Olivia Aliotta leads the team with 116 kills, and Mary Duvall Sumner has 109 kills. Three setters have had an impact for the Hornets as senior Lilla Brennan leads the team with 154 assists, with Cayden Osterman (128 assists) and Boots Buckler (114 assists) making contributions.
CLASS 2A
Spencer (17-12) at Savannah Arts (28-8), Tuesday, time TBA
The Panthers won their ninth consecutive region title Saturday as they swept Pierce County to give coach Lauren Lord her 200th career victory.
Last season, Savannah Arts made the deepest playoff run in school history — reaching the Class 2A semifinals where the Panthers lost to eventual state champion Mt. Paran Christian.
The team has the talent to make another run at a state crown. The offense is led by sisters Finn Higginbotham (344 kills) and Torrin Higginbotham with senior setter Lillie Coffey (673 assists) serving as one of the top setters in the state.
CLASS 7A
Archer (13-13) at Richmond Hill (28-8), Wednesday time TBA
Richmond Hill won its second consecutive Region 1-7A crown and the Wildcats have a talented squad ready to make a deeper run after reaching the Class 7A Sweet 16 last season. Four players earned All-Region 1-7A honors for Richmond Hill with Savannah Davis and Talia Johnson getting first-team honors, as Carson Reeves was named Offensive Player of the Year with setter Gwyneth Harper taking home Player of the Year honors.
CLASS 5A
Bradwell (2-17) at Decatur (17-8), Wednesday, time TBA
The Tigers are the No. 4 seed out of Region 1-5A with their wins coming against Jenkins in region play.
CLASS 4A
Whitewater (17-20-2) at Islands (18-15), Tuesday, time TBA
Islands finished second in the Region 3-4A tournament to West Laurens and will host a first-round matchup with Whitewater as the No. 2 seed.
Junior Alexandra Audette (252 kills) and her classmate Amalia Brenton (122 kills) lead an offense run by setter Macey Gibblets (403 assists). Junior Maya Swenson is a standout at libero with 333 digs.
New Hampstead (11-18) at Starr's Mill (27-12-2), Tuesday, time TBA
The Phoenix enter the playoffs as the No. 4 seed out of Region 3-4A.
CLASS A
Taylor County (1-13) at Bryan County (20-11), Wednesday, time TBA
Bryan County edged Woodville-Tompkins in five sets Saturday to win the Region Area 3-A title and earn the No. 1 seed entering the postseason.
Dublin (5-12) at Woodville-Tompkins (14-10), Wednesday, time TBA
Woodville came back from two sets down to beat Savannah High in the semis of the region tournament, but lost to Bryan County to take the No. 2 seed.
Savannah High (19-3) at Chattahoochee County (7-7), Wednesday, time TBA
The Blue Jackets could be a dangerous No. 3 seed after compiling an impressive record through the regular season.
CLASS 6A
Morrow (24-4) at South Effingham (23-16), Tuesday, time TBA
The Mustangs earned the No. 2 seed out of Region 2-6A and will host Morrow Tuesday.
Sophomore Clara Vorel has been a standout all season for South Effingham and leads the team with 222 kills. Riley Stringer has been strong at setter with 444 assists and Bri Coffee leads the team with 216 digs.
Effingham County (24-14) at Woodward Academy (20-14), Tuesday, 5 p.m.
The Rebels earned the No. 4 seed out of Region 2-6A and will be on the road to face Woodward Academy Tuesday.
Murphy Boyett (173 kills) and Bella Teston (115 kills) lead the Rebel offense run by setters Bentley Braswell (274 assists) and Charlotte Shearouse (209 assists).
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah-area high school volleyball teams in the GHSA state playoffs
