The state volleyball tournaments start Saturday at schools across the

state. There are four local schools competing in the state tournament,

all with a chance to make some noise and contend for a title.

Class AAAAA

Starr's Mill (40-8) won the area 2-AAAAA tournament last Thursday

over Fayette County in three games, 25-21, 25-13 and 25-9. Kurtsen Carr

and Shelley MacBean led the offense with 12 and 11 kills respectively,

while Niki Patriarca had 30 assists. Kelley Elder had five service aces

and Aubrey Ireland, Kirstin Massmann and Alex Hayes also contributed

solid efforts in the win. Carr, MacBean and Patriarca were all named

to the all area first team and Patriarca was also selected as the tournament's

MVP. The Lady Panthers coach, Dottie Licciardi, was named Area 2 Coach

of the Year.

Starr's Mill, ranked second in Class AAAAA, will open the tournament

at North Gwinnett High School against Dacula (31-13), ranked seventh

in AAAAA, at 10 a.m. Saturday. Fayette County will take on Collins Hill

at Cherokee High School at 10 a.m.

Class AAAA

McIntosh (28-13) opened the area 4-AAAA tournament with a 25-4, 25-7

win over Washington but lost to Sandy Creek, 25-16, 25-22. McIntosh then

reeled off wins over Creekside, 25-10, 25-12 and Northgate, 25-12, 25-8

before avenging their loss to Sandy Creek with a win in three games,

26-24, 10-25, 25-20. The Lady Chiefs then lost to Woodward Academy in

the final, 25-15, 25-22, 25-17.

Megan Cheatham had an excellent tournament with 103 assists, 11 digs,

11 aces and two blocks. Junior outside hitter Danielle Crawford had 44

kills and 21 digs, while senior defensive specialist Rachel Adams had

17 digs and senior captain and right side hitter Abbey Meutzel had 12

kills, 23 digs and six blocks.

McIntosh, ranked fifth in AAAA, opens the Class AAAA tournament against

Marist (47-7-1) at Marist High School. Marist, ranked second in AAAA,

had a 15 game winning streak and then an 11 game winnning streak after

a loss to Oak Mountain.

Class A/AA

Landmark Christian (26-17), ranked sixth in A/AA, will open the state

tournament at Lovett High School with a match against Greater Atlanta

Christian (25-18), ranked seventh in A/AA. The Lady War Eagles won the

area 3 A/AA tournament against Lovett in five games. Greater Atlanta

Christian went 6-10 in the final 16 games of the season.

Visit www.thecitizennews.com for updates.