City volleyball teams get playoff seeding
The GHSA reseeded the Class A volleyball playoffs Wednesday night, and Calvary Day and Savannah Christian got some great news as the teams were named the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, respectively — meaning the teams have byes into the GHSA Class A state semifinals.
Calvary (31-9) will host the winner of the Athens Academy/Fellowship Christian match set for Saturday in a semifinal at Calvary next Wednesday at a time to be announced.
Savannah Christian (35-7) will host the winner of Saturday’s George Walton Academy/Landmark Christian match Wednesday at a time to be announced.
St. Vincent’s (28-13) was named a No. 4 seed in Class AA. The Saints will host Pace Academy on Saturday at a time to be announced.
SOFTBALL
Bryan County splits first 2 with Wesleyan
NORCROSS — The Bryan County High Redskins split the first two games of their second-round series of the Class AA state softball playoffs with host Wesleyan High School.
Bryan County took the first game 3-0 but fell 2-0 in the nightcap. The third and deciding game will be played at 4 p.m. today.
Wildcats play Dalton in Game 3 today
RICHMOND HILL — Dalton and Richmond Hill split the first two games of their Class AAAAA state softball playoffs.
Dalton won the first game 5-2, then Richmond Hill captured the second game 4-1.
The deciding Game 3 is slated for 2 p.m. today.
COLLEGES
WOMEN’S SOCCER
ARMSTRONG 7, USC AIKEN 0
AIKEN, S.C. — Armstrong State University scored a season-high seven goals in picking up a shutout Peach Belt Conference win over host USC Aiken.
The win extended the current win streak of the Pirates (9-3-2, 5-1-2 PBC) to four, while USC Aiken (2-10-1, 2-5 PBC) dropped its seventh match of the season by shutout. Armstrong returns to action Saturday, hosting Georgia Southwestern State in a 3:30 p.m. PBC contest.
The Pirates scored six of their seven goals in the first half, getting started quickly on an unassisted goal by sophomore Amanda Green in the 14th minute. Green then assisted on the next two goals, feeding senior Taylor Valley with a pass from the right side in the 16th minute for her third goal of the season, then delivering a cross from the right to sophomore Jenny Allen in the 23rd minute for Allen’s seventh of the season and a 3-0 lead.
Allen added her second goal of the match just three minutes later, putting in her own rebound off a shot in the 26th minute. Freshman Taylor Snell then delivered her first collegiate goal, heading in a corner kick in the 35th minute for the Pirates. Freshman Martha Trimbach finished the first-half scoring with her second goal of the season in the 42nd minute.
The Pirates scored on six of their nine first-half shots, while USC Aiken was held to just two shots before intermission.
Valley notched her second goal, an unassisted tally, in the 83rd minute to cap the scoring for Armstrong State.
“This is a place we have traditionally not played well at, so it was nice to break out on the scoreboard in the way that we did,” Armstrong coach Eric Faulconer said. “I think, in many ways, we are starting to find our identity as a team. Tonight we played to our strengths and turned in a very strong performance.”
The Pirates finished the night with a 13-3 edge in shots. Sophomore goalkeeper Erica Laurens made one save in picking up her first career shutout for the Pirates, while USC Aiken goalkeeper Karin Cadwalader made two saves in 71 minutes in net. Each team had one corner kick apiece and USC Aiken was whistled for two fouls, compared to one for the Pirates. Armstrong was whistled for offsides seven times on the night.
VOLLEYBALL
ALABAMA STATE 3,
SAVANNAH STATE 0
Savannah State University fell to Alabama State in its last non-conference opponent of the season 3-0 (25-11, 25-14, 25-21) for the “Dig Pink” match in Willcox-Wiley Gymnasium.
Junior middle blocker Gabrielle Nathaniel and freshman outside hitter Makayla Tam led the team with five kills each, while Nathaniel added eight digs, a service ace and a block assist, while Tam added three assists, two digs and a service ace.
Junior setter Caitlynn Masoe led the team with 18 assists and added four kills, two service aces and two digs, while junior libero Alexis Washington led the team with 12 digs. Freshman outside hitter Chinenye Ofodile added four kills.
The Hornets were led by Myla Marshall with 13 kills, Riley MacDonald with 16 assists and Scout Wonsang with 12 digs.
The Lady Tigers travel to Florida this weekend to face Bethune-Cookman at 7 p.m. in Daytona Beach and Florida A&M at 3 p.m. Sunday in Tallahassee.
ARMSTRONG 3,
UNC PEMBROKE 0
PEMBROKE, N.C. — Armstrong got back on the winning track in Peach Belt Conference play with a 3-0 victory over host UNC Pembroke. Set scores were: 25-14, 25-15, 25-17.
The win halted a two-game slide within league play for the first-place Pirates (12-6, 8-2 PBC), while UNC Pembroke fell to 5-18 overall and 2-9 in the PBC.
Armstrong returns to action Saturday, visiting Francis Marion for a 2 p.m. matchup with the Patriots in Florence, S.C.
The Pirates came out on fire in the first set, hitting .423 as a team in getting the early 1-0 lead. Armstrong then jumped out to a 15-6 lead in set number two and had a similarly large 14-6 lead at the beginning of set number three. Armstrong finished the match hitting .308 as a team, while UNC Pembroke hit just .053 on the night.
Anna McGee notched a match-high 10 kills for the Pirates, while Kristi Vaughn tallied 24 assists and Iva Scepanovic logged 16 digs.
Raquel Kulak had five blocks.
UNCP was led by Cecilia Brandon’s six kills and Bailee Jones’ 12 assists and nine digs.