FLOWERY BRANCH — Cherokee Bluff opened the Class 3A volleyball tournament with a dominating sweep of Redan on Tuesday at home.
The Lady Bears spiked Redan 25-7, 25-8, and 25-14 to advance to the second round. Bluff will play host to the Savannah-Southeast Bulloch winner on Saturday.
Maddy Levine had 9 assists, 8 aces and 1 dig and GB Cornett had 4 kills, 4 assists, 3 aces and 1 dig for Cherokee Bluff. Sage Sutulovich had 8 kills, 1 ace and 1 block, Brandon Peterson 4 kills and 1 dig, and Abbi Hutchins 3 aces and 2 digs for the Lady Bears.
Emma Staples had 6 kills, 2 aces, 1 dig, Camille Godfrey added 2 aces and 2 digs, Sierra Piland 1 kill, 1 block, and 1 dig, Presley Rosen 2 kills and 1 block, and Lauren Murrath 1 kill and 1 assist for Cherokee Bluff.
However, the rest of Region 7-3A did not fare as well.
North Hall, the No. 2 seed, fell to deafening Class 3A champion Westminster in a tight 3-2 match. Lumpkin County lost 3-1 to Sandy Creek and Greater Atlanta Christian took a 3-0 win over White County.
Also in Class 3A, East Jackson took a 3-1 road win over Sonoraville to advance to the second round.
JACKSON COUNTY SWEEPS
The Lady Panthers swept Villa Rica in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.
Jackson County next will travel to Region 2-5A champion McINtosh in the second round on Saturday.
NORTH HALL FALLS TO DEFENDING CHAMPS
The Lady Trojans nearly pulled off the comeback of the season before falling in a close match to defending Class 3A champion Westminster in the first round of the Class 3A tournament.
Westminster won the first two sets, 25-13 and 25-19, before North Hall rallied to tie the match winning the next two set, 27--25 and 25-22. But the Lady Wildcats held off a furious North Hall charge winning the final set 15-12 to advance.
Lexie Martin had 19 assists, 4 kills, 8 digs and Claire Bowen had 5 kills and 3 blocks to lead North Hall. Gavyn Graber had 9 kills and 2 blocks, Amelia Shoemaker added 10 kills, and AnnaKate Shoaf had 18 digs for the Lady Trojans.
Karsyn Savage had 3 aces, 1 kill, and 3 digs and Sarah Davidson had 4 kills, 1 ace, and 1 block for North Hall.
