Gordon Lee's Julianna Spradlin (23) spikes the ball towards Chattooga's Anna Krueger (13) and Kim Hanby Tuesday at Gordon Lee High School in Chickamauga, Ga.Although the match was against an opponent her team knew well, first-year Gordon Lee volleyball coach Tricia Goodwin said she thought her players were a little nervous Tuesday at the start of the Lady Trojans' postseason opener. But the jitters didn't last long.
Gordon Lee quickly "settled into what we do," the coach said, and defeated Chattooga 3-0 in the GHSA Class AA state-tournament championship bracket. Set scores were 25-15, 25-8, 25-9.
Gordon Lee (31-6-2) will play Wesleyan in the next round Saturday, when they won't be able to afford to show any nerves.
"It's going to be a whole 'nother level of play," Goodwin said. "It will be a faster-pace game -- a lot more hitting and blocking. We're going to have to play good defense and stick to what we know."
Once the Lady Trojans got past the early stages of the first set against the Lady Indians, they managed to cruise to victory against their fellow Area 6 opponent -- an at-large playoff team the league champions beat in both conference matches during the regular season.
Julianna Spradlin led the hitting and serving for Gordon Lee with 12 kills and four aces. She got support at the net from Grace Sims' eight kills and three blocks and Anna Pettigrew's five kills. Emma Boles and Emma Moore each added three of the Lady Trojans' 14 aces.
"We try to move it around the court," Goodwin said. "The kids played smart. It was a great job on their part to look for holes in the defense instead of just pounding away."
Sidney Pierce led Gordon Lee with 15 assists. The back row had a light night with Hannah Lee's four digs being tops on the team.
• Class AAA: Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe and Sonoraville each hosted and defeated opponents Tuesday with the Lady Warriors beating Spencer 3-0 and the Lady Phoenix defeating Central Carroll 3-0.
Set scores in Lakeview's win were 25-16, 25-11, 25-14. The hitting was spread around with Jessica Serecky registering nine kills, Elizabeth Oliver and Rachel Harwood getting six each, Haley Grubb adding five and Sydni Eaves chipping in with four.
"We had good communication on the court," LFO coach Diane Norwood said. "My hitters are just doing a tremendous job right now, and I've got several."
Serecky also had a team-high four aces and Eaves led with 11 assists.
Sonoraville won by set scores of 25-11, 25-17, 26-24 and is advancing to a state quarterfinal for the third consecutive year. The Lady Phoenix's next match also is Saturday.
Sonoraville (34-14) was led by Haley Ponder's 16 kills and six aces. Savannah Wilbanks had 22 assists. Maris Irick and Haley Smith had four digs apiece and Irick also contributed six kills and five aces.
"We came out very focused, especially with passing and serving," Sonoraville coach Trace Vaughn said. "Doing those things well sets a great tone for the game and allows our hitters to shine. Maris has really stepped up her game all around, and the team has come together extremely well. Just about everyone got a chance to play in the third set, so that experience is good for our future as well."
• Class AAAA: Both area teams remaining lost Tuesday with Ridgeland dropping a home match to Woodward Academy 3-0 and Heritage losing 3-0 at Sandy Creek. Set scores in Ridgeland's loss were 25-19, 25-20, 25-19.
Te'a Owens and Nicole Lonsford totaled nine kills each for the Lady Panthers, and Lonsford's 24 digs were second only to teammate Madison Killen's 29. Taylor Williams had 17 assists.
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him at twitter.com/KelleySmiddie.