Seven area volleyball teams are headed to the GHSA Sweet 16, and two familiar region rivalries are getting another round.
Savannah Arts Academy and Bryan County meet Tuesday, Oct. 20, in Class A/AA, while Islands travels to Pierce County on Wednesday, Oct. 21, in Class AAA. Both matchups will be the third meeting between the teams this season, and both have a trip to the Elite Eight on the line.
Savannah Arts and Pierce County won their first two meetings against their respective opponents. Now Bryan County and Islands get another chance, but this time there's no fourth meeting. The winner moves on, and the loser goes home.
Savannah Christian, South Effingham, Richmond Hill and Southeast Bulloch also advanced with first-round wins Oct. 16-17, leaving seven teams from the Savannah area still competing for Georgia High School Association (GHSA) state championships.
Meanwhile, the Habersham School came within two points of reaching the Georgia Association of Private and Parochial Schools (GAPPS) state championship match before falling to Alleluia Community in five sets Saturday.
GHSA First-Round Results
Savannah Christian, Class Private
The No. 3-seeded Raiders opened the playoffs Friday with a 3-0 win over No. 30 Darlington. Savannah Christian won 25-11, 25-14, and 25-21, improving to 43-3 and advancing to the Sweet 16.
Next up is No. 19 Pace Academy on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The Raiders will be back on their home court, with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line. Match time has not been announced.
Savannah Arts Academy, Class A/AA
The No. 5 Panthers swept No. 28 Mitchell County in the opening round Saturday, winning 25-6, 25-5 and 25-4.
Next up is a familiar opponent in Bryan County. The two region rivals met Sept. 10, with Savannah Arts winning 2-1. The Panthers also won the second meeting 2-0 on Oct. 1.
Savannah Arts will return to its home court Tuesday, looking to make it three wins over the Redskins this season. This time, the winner advances to the Elite Eight.
Bryan County, Class A/AA
The No. 12 Redskins advanced with a 3-1 win over No. 21 Brooks County on Saturday, setting up another meeting with Savannah Arts Academy.
Bryan County has lost both regular-season meetings with the Panthers, but the Redskins get another opportunity Tuesday. The winner advances to the quarterfinals, guaranteeing at least one area team reaches the Elite Eight.
Islands, Class AAA
The No. 14 Sharks moved on with a 3-1 win over No. 19 Murray County in Saturday's opening round. Next up is a road trip to No. 3 Pierce County on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
These two region opponents know each other well. Pierce County won both regular-season meetings, including a 2-1 victory Sept. 3. Islands took the opening set 25-19, but the Bears came back to win the second 27-25 and the deciding set 15-7.
The second meeting came Oct. 10, and Pierce County swept the Sharks 25-23, 25-17, and 25-20.
Now the Islands get a third shot at the Bears, with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line. The Sharks will have to do it on Pierce County's home court, where the match time has not yet been announced.
South Effingham, Class AAAAAA
The No. 8 Mustangs swept No. 25 Tift County on Saturday, winning 25-8, 25-16 and 25-14.
Shayla Ramsey finished with six kills, five digs, and four aces, while Leah Magana added 22 assists.
South Effingham advances to the Sweet 16 and will host Johns Creek on Tuesday. The Mustangs will have the home-court advantage as they look to move into the quarterfinals.
Richmond Hill, Class AAAAAAA
Richmond Hill, Class AAAAAAA
Richmond Hill took care of business in the opening round, sweeping No. 25 Carrollton 3-0 on Saturday to earn another home playoff match.
The No. 8 Wildcats won the first two sets 25-18 and 25-14 before closing out the match 25-22 in the third.
Next up is No. 9 Denmark in the Sweet 16 on Wednesday, Oct. 21, with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line. Match time has not been announced.
Southeast Bulloch, Class AAA
The No. 24 Yellow Jackets went on the road and swept No. 9 Upson-Lee, winning 25-16, 25-23 and 25-21.
Southeast Bulloch advances to face Cherokee Bluff on Tuesday. This time, the Yellow Jackets will be back on their home court, with a trip to the Elite Eight on the line.
Season ends for four area playoff teams.
Four other area teams saw their seasons end in the opening round Saturday. Woodville-Tompkins, Long County, Calvary Day and St. Vincent's Academy were eliminated from the state tournament.
Their seasons are over, but reaching the playoffs is an accomplishment worth recognizing. Congratulations to the players and coaches for earning a postseason spot and representing their schools and our area.
Habersham comes up two points short.
The Habersham School was one set away from playing for a state championship before losing 3-2 to Alleluia Community in the GAPPS state semifinals Saturday, Oct. 17, at Creekside Christian Academy in McDonough.
And for anyone who has coached or played in a close postseason match, this one had to hurt.
The Habersham School volleyball team celebrates its region championship at home on Oct. 2 before heading into the GAPPS state playoffs. (Photo courtesy of the Habersham School)
Habersham won the opening set 28-26, but Alleluia answered with a 25-23 second-set win. The Patriots came back to take the third set 25-23, putting themselves one set away from the championship match.
Alleluia wasn't finished, though. It won the fourth set 25-23 to force a fifth and deciding set.
That final set went beyond the usual 15 points before Alleluia pulled out a 17-15 win, ending Habersham's season.
Five sets, all decided by two points. That's how close this match was. The Patriots had their chances, but Alleluia found a way to get the final two points.
Louisa Italiano led Habersham with 15 kills and two blocks, while Paige Edwards added 11 kills. Abbey Zellner and Claire Patterson finished with nine kills each.
Olivia Shingler recorded six kills and 39 assists, and Aniston Smeltzer had 20 digs.
Habersham's semifinal statistical leaders
- Louisa Italiano: 15 kills, two blocks
- Paige Edwards: 11 kills
- Abbey Zellner: Nine kills
- Claire Patterson: Nine kills
- Olivia Shingler: Six kills, 39 assists
- Aniston Smeltzer: 20 digs
Habersham finished its season 23-17. The Patriots didn't get the finish they wanted, but they stayed in the game until the final point, fighting for a chance to play in a state championship.
GHSA Sweet 16 Volleyball Schedule
Tuesday, Oct. 20
Class A/AA
No. 12 Bryan County at No. 5 Savannah Arts Academy, TBA
Class AAA
Cherokee Bluff at No. 24 Southeast Bulloch, TBA
Class AAAAAA
Johns Creek at No. 8 South Effingham, TBA
Wednesday, Oct. 21
Class AAA
No. 14 Islands at No. 3 Pierce County, TBA
Class AAAAAAA
No. 9 Denmark at No. 8 Richmond Hill, TBA
Class Private
No. 19 Pace Academy at No. 3 Savannah Christian, TBA
What's Next? GHSA Volleyball Playoffs
The Sweet 16 is next, and the road to a state championship gets a little tougher with each round. Here's what's ahead for the teams that keep winning.
Quarterfinals: Saturday, Oct. 24
Semifinals: Oct. 27-28
State championships: Oct. 29 and 31
Note: Scores, stats, and playoff schedules were gathered from MaxPreps.com, GHSA.net, and the Habersham School's X page. Game times and locations can change, so check with your school before heading out to watch.
Photo courtesy of The Richmond Hill High School Volleyball Facebook Page
Follow Prep Sports Report on X @PrepSav and Instagram @savannahsportsreport.
To share scores, story ideas, or corrections, email kdemasi@prepsportsreport.com or text 912.507.9158.
