The Georgia high school volleyball state playoffs are about to get under way for 12 teams from the Chattanooga area. Six are Class AAA teams, four are in Class AAAA and there are one each in Class AA and Class A.
The Class A team is Gordon Lee (32-11), which is one of three public-school teams among the 32 remaining. Volleyball and wrestling are the only sports in which the GHSA does not have a public-private split.
Last year the Lady Trojans won their opening-round match and joined 15 private schools in the second round. Gordon Lee coach Tricia Goodwin said there is no formal recognition for being the only Class A public school still standing, but it doesn't mean T-shirts can't be printed.
This year Gordon Lee is the third-seeded team from Area 4 and plays at Area 2's second-seeded Landmark Christian near Atlanta. The match is set for Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
"They've got one or two really strong hitters," Goodwin said of the War Eagles. "We played them at camp at Georgia State before the season and mainly handled them fairly well. But you never know how a team improves over a season."
The Lady Trojans are led at the net by senior Aubree Yancey. Gracie O'Neal is a key contributor in kills and digs and leads the team in aces. Fellow sophomore Madison Mayberry is also relied on for digging, and the setter is classmate Mallory Collier.
In Class AAA, Area 6 champion Ringgold plays at home today at 5 and Area 1 winner Calhoun hosts Groves at 7. Area 6 runner-up Coahulla Creek hosts Morgan County today at 5 and Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe also plays at 5 at East Jackson. Area 1's Sonoraville plays at Savannah at 7 and Area 6's Murray County plays at Area 8 champion Jackson County.
Area 6-AAAA winner and runner-up Northwest Whitfield and Heritage play at home Thursday at 5 against Madison County and Jefferson, respectively. Other Class AAAA matches Thursday include LaFayette at North Oconee and Southeast Whitfield at St. Pius X, both at 5:30.
Area 3-AA's Chattooga doesn't open state-tournament play until Oct. 17.
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-665 Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.