Northwest cruises, Coahulla Creek falls in volleyball state playoffs

Published 8:00 pm Wednesday, October 14, 2015

TUNNEL HILL — Northwest Whitfield coach Jennifer Quinn and her players didn’t know who they would play in the second round of the Class 4A state volleyball tournament next week, but they knew it would be a lot tougher than what they faced in the state opener.

The Lady Bruins, the No. 1 seed from Area 7-4A, beat Area 3 No. 4 seed New Hampstead Wednesday in what amounted to an exhibition match as Northwest rolled 25-3, 25-11, 25-18. Even the third set score was deceiving as the Lady Bruins made more mistakes for points than New Hampstead earned.

It was obvious from the beginning that the third-year Savannah school was outmatched as the Lady Bruins continued their record-setting year by earning a school-record 40th victory. But Quinn knows the next round will be much more difficult as the Lady Bruins will host the winner of the first round match between North Oconee and Redan, two schools with much more volleyball tradition.

“It is a win, and I want the girls to celebrate a win, but really it is over and it is time to focus on the next game,” Quinn said. “We are going to continue to finish. That has been our thing this year, and we have to continue to do that.”

The Lady Bruins (40-10) were led by the usual names, but the entire roster got plenty of playing time against New Hampstead (10-21).

Mary Kate Allen led the team in the middle with 14 kills, a block, three digs and six aces. Also along the front, Peyton Maret finished with 10 kills, two blocks, two digs and an ace. In the back, setter Whitley Brooker had 25 assists, four digs and six aces.

“We have six seniors and there are always a combination of four of them out there at all times, and they have played with each other for so long, they finish for each other,” Quinn said. “If something happens or we have a let down, they can climb out of that hole or overcome some adversity because they have that relationship.”

Maret said the team will have to continue the kind of play that gave the team the Area 7-4A title in order to advance. Northwest hosts the second round next Tuesday.

“We will have to stay strong with our offense and defense and speed your game play up for the next round,” Maret said. “We can’t have a lazy stretch like we did tonight. We have to stay focused.

“It is more about us and not who we play next,” she said. “We have to come out and play to our potential and not worry about the opponent. We have to focus on us.”

n Coahulla Creek fell victim to defending Class 3A state champion Blessed Trinity in Roswell in the first round of this year’s 3A playoffs,  25-8, 25-6, 25-12.

Ilona Boniface led the Lady Colts (23-30) with four kills a block and seven digs. Taylor Smith had six assists and Taylor Graham had three digs and a block. Rachel Walker added two kills a block and a dig.

“It was good experience their first time going to state,” Coahulla Creek assistant coach Donna Williams said. “But they were up against a more seasoned opponent. But they played hard and I’m really proud of them.”