Last season, Walton was the only state champion to successfully defend its volleyball state title and this year’s reclassification makes for another competitive season. Class AAAA and Class AA each house two defending champs. In Class AAAA, St. Pius was classed up after claiming the Class AAA title last year and, in Class AA, Holy Innocents’ jumped from Class A after its 2013 state title.
The first week has seen some outstanding matchups and teams are beginning to gather early momentum before region play heats up. Marist topped Holy Innocents’ 25-18, 23-25, 25-16 on Wednesday after the Golden Bears swept Pace Academy 25-17, 25-14 and rolled past Wesleyan 25-14, 25-13 on Tuesday. Sandy Creek hosted Columbus on Tuesday and rallied for a 3-2 victory after falling behind 2-1.
The volleyball season is full swing, but before competition opened this week, a tragedy struck the hearts of the entire state and beyond. Northview senior Abbey Rice was with her teammates last Friday on a team-building retreat in Jasper, Ga. when her ATV overturned. The honor student passed away from the crash and the Johns Creek community has rallied in support for the Rice family, her friends and her Northview classmates.
Donations for the family totaled more than $28,000 as of Thursday morning. As for this year’s Northview team, they’ll have an emotional season while facing a difficult schedule that will certainly challenge the three-time volleyball state champions. The Titans take on Woodward Academy and North Cobb in the Elite Eight Playdate at Wesleyan this Saturday and their home opener is set for Aug. 23. The Aug. 23 playdate will feature a triple-header against top programs Mt. Paran Christian, St. Pius and Landmark Christian. The entire senior class at Northview wore ribbons to honor Rice during the first day of school this past Monday and the students plan to continue playing tribute to No. 12 and rallying behind their team throughout this season.
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