The 2013 high school volleyball season is underway, and teams from Fayette County will be hard-pressed to equal the overall success seen last fall.
Five local teams were still alive when the 2012 state semifinals were played, and three of those squads raised championship banners at the end of the season.
The Whitewater Lady Wildcats took home the AAAAA crown, defeating the McIntosh Lady Chiefs 3-1 in the championship round at McEachern High School. Whitewater and McIntosh were ranked 1 and 2 when the eight-team state championship bracket was announced.
Whitewater won 3-0 over Northside-Columbus and 3-0 against Lakeside to reach the finals, while McIntosh downed Harris County 3-0 and then knocked off the Starr’s Mill Lady Panthers 3-0 in the state semifinals.
Starr’s Mill was the sixth seed, but a 3-1 win over third-seeded Northgate earned the team a spot in the semifinals, which were played at McIntosh.
The Sandy Creek Lady Patriots took the state title in AAAA play. It was their third championship in five years, after the 2011 AAA crown and the 2008 AAAA title.
Below, the Sandy Creek titlists. Photo/GHSA.
The top seed in the championship bracket, Sandy Creek won 3-0 over Carrollton and SE Whitfield before facing second-seeded Columbus in the finals at Marietta High and winning 3-1.
In the A state tournament, the champions were the Landmark Lady War Eagles. Seeded second, they earned a first-round bye and then defeated Savannah Christian 3-1 in the semifinals at Pinecrest Academy. In the final round at Marietta, Landmark won 3-1 over top-seeded Walker.
Below, the Landmark champions. Photo/GHSA.
As for the 2013 campaign, Landmark’s first regular-season match was scheduled for yesterday at Blessed Trinity.
Starr’s Mill and Our Lady of Mercy opened their seasons yesterday with a three-way match at Newnan. McIntosh opens tomorrow at home against Johns Creek and Woodward, then travels to Marist Saturday.
Fayette County’s season opener is tomorrow on the road against Banneker and Creekside. Sandy Creek begins its 2013 season Saturday at Marist, while Whitewater’s season opener is Aug. 20 at Newnan.
