Whitewater wins area volleyball championship

The Whitewater Lady Wildcats varsity volleyball team won the 3-AAAA area volleyball tournament championship this past weekend.

Whitewater defeated Northgate in three games in the 2 p.m. match, beat top ranked Sandy Creek, two sets to none, and then defeated them again in the finals in 5 games, 3 sets to 2.
 
In the Finals the Cats were down two sets to none in the best-of-five championship match. Sandy Creek’s Chanelle Smith left the game with an ankle injury and the Lady Wildcats roared back in an unbelievable comeback to win three straight games and win the area championship.

“Outstanding offensive performances were turned in by Helen Menchinger and Teegan Van Gunst on the outside; Katie Molina and Annika Van Gunst in the middle; and Lizzie Knapper on the right side. Joy Smith and Abby Baker had outstanding days defensively. Kaylee Kehoe had a great day setting and defensively,” said Whitewater head coach Ben Thacker.

This is the first area championship for the Whitewater volleyball program. They will host Dalton in the first round of the state tournament on Thursday. The winner of that match will take on the winner of Hardaway and Lithia Springs.

Sandy Creek will host Sprayberry and the winner of that match will meet the winner of Glynn Academy and Allatoona in the second round. Northgate, the three seed from region 3-AAAA, will play at NW Whitfield. The winner of that match will meet the winner of Hillgrove and Lee County. Starr’s Mill will play at Sequoyah and the winner will meet the winner of North Paulding and South Effingham.

The Our Lady of Mercy varsity volleyball team defeated Landmark for the fourth time this season to secure a spot in the area championship game. The Lady Bobcats faced ELCA in the championship match. Coming off a thrilling 2-1 victory over the War Eagles, the Bobcats were hitting on all cylinders and took a good lead on the undefeated ELCA team all the way to 19-14. After several errors on Mercy's behalf, the game was tied 19-19 and went back and forth until the Chargers were able to get the ball to the area player of the year Mara Green in the middle and win 25-23. Mercy struggled in game two before falling 25-17 but came back in game three to make it a thriller before falling 25-21.

This was the first time the Mercy volleyball program made it to the area Championship in program history and is a testament to the progress of the program as well as to the commitment and hard work of the players.

They will host the first round of the state tournament vs Holy Innocents Saturday, Oct. 17 at 4 p.m. The winner of that match will meet the winner of Chattahoochee County and North Cobb Christian. Landmark Christian will take on Blessed Trinity on the road. The winner of that match will meet the winner of Westminster and Central, Talbot.

Mercy’s Kalie Ludvigsen and Sam Morris were nominated as Senior All Stars along with Landmark’s Taylor Bailey and Rebecca Swinford. Ludvigsen and Morris were also named to the all area team along with freshman Mary Katherine Schmitz. Landmark’s Colette Richards also made the team. Earning all area honorable mentions for Our Lady of Mercy were Brittany Smith and Ashlyn Bodkin, along with Landmark’s Lauren Toomer and Swinford.