Volleyball coaches serve up mixed reviews for new playoff format

By Michael Carvell

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Volleyball coaches have mixed feelings about the new format for the state tournament, which wraps up with four championship matches on Saturday at Marietta High School.

Wesleyan and Westminster play in the Class AA/A finals at 11 a.m., followed by Columbus vs. Woodward in AAA at 1:30 p.m., Marist vs. Whitewater in AAAA at 4 p.m., and AAAAA's Pope vs. Walton at 7 p.m.

In past years, teams would have to win three best-of-five matches in a row on the same day to advance to the state semifinals. This season, the first two rounds were held on separate days at the host site of the higher-seeded team. The next two rounds were played on the same day at one location last Saturday, with the winning teams earning a week of rest before this weekend's championships.

"I think the goal is to try to ensure the best teams are playing at the end ... also, we were trying to avoid the fatigue factor in having teams play back-to-back three out of five matches," Marist coach Anna Bush said. "I think both have been accomplished with the new format."

However, there are still concerns over structuring in the early part of the tournament. Lovett and Blessed Trinity, both considered state championship contenders, were eliminated after brutal second-round matches earlier this month.

"I do not like the format at all," Woodward coach Tad Sahara said. "In later rounds, you should never play more than one match in a day. I also do not like the fact that the [quarterfinals and semifinals] were played in the same venue on back-to-back courts.

"The one thing I like about it is that the teams are reseeded after the first two rounds."

More volleyball

> Woodward is aiming for its seventh state championship in the past nine years. The team is led by setter Kelsey Eastman, along with outside hitters Brianna Spruill and Zoey Morton.

> Walton's Kelly Murphy is already considered one of the state's top overall players as a sophomore. The Cobb County school is making its first appearance in the championship match since 2002, when it completed a streak of five state titles in a row. The Raiders didn't qualify for the postseason last year.

Softball

> Collins Hill was perhaps the biggest surprise at the state tournament, rising from the loser's bracket to win the Class AAAAA championship. The tireless Eagles closed with three straight wins on last Saturday.

"Coming through the loser's bracket made the day even more special, but just sitting back and watching the girls celebrate after the final out was something I can never describe," Collins Hill coach Billy Dooley said.

Outfielder Aerika Miles drew a walk to lead off the sixth inning, and later scored the game-tying run against Houston County. Miles also robbed a homer with a leaping grab at the fence in the seventh.

Collins Hill's other top performers during the tournament were Christina Parham (.315 batting average), Briana Cason (stellar defense), Randi Rea (scored six runs, 4 RBIs), Sammy Lenahan (bases-loaded triple in championship), Chelsea Littlejohn (game-winning RBI vs. Kell), and Brittany Roley (speed on bases).

> Marist pitcher Lori Spingola had 11 shutouts in the state playoffs, including four in Columbus. The two-time Class AAAA champion War Eagles will lose seven starters with a combined total of 23 years of varsity experience to graduation.