When the Pope and Walton volleyball teams have gotten together in recent years, it’s for East Cobb bragging rights. 
The powerhouse programs have won multiple state championships, but are in different classifications.
They renewed their “Backyard Brawl” series in 2023, and have split those matches in each of the last two years.
But their early-season showdown this year will be generating attention far beyond the community.
The teams will meet Saturday night at Pope, the reigning Georgia Class 6A champion, but not in the gym.
What’s being dubbed “Saturday Night Lights” will be taking place at the Greyhounds’ football stadium, and forecast calls for clear skies.
Less than 24 hours after the Pope and Walton football teams will meet at Pope in a pre-season scrimmage, a special outdoor court will be prepared for the “Backyard Brawl.”
It’s believed to be the first such outdoor match for Georgia high school volleyball teams.
In 2023, the University of Nebraska drew more than 90,000 spectators to its football stadium for a Cornhuskers’ volleyball, and as spectator sports for girls and women is taking off.
Pope coaches cited the Nebraska event in proposing the event to school officials.
“Some of our parents were energized by the idea of a ‘Friday Night Lights’ type experience for our girls,” Pope Head Community Coach Erica Miller said in a release by the Cobb County School District.
“Since football has most of the Fridays locked up, we went with a Saturday Night Lights. We are hopeful that the newness of the experience will draw a big crowd and that this event will be looked at more like a football game night out for kids and families.”
Walton is a Georgia volleyball juggernaut, with 15 state titles since 1998, but none since 2021. Saturday’s match will be the second for new Raiders coach Ashley Jones, who was previously the head coach at Marietta.
She said in the Cobb school district release that “These are two of the most successful volleyball teams in the state and this is a great opportunity for the community to see high-level volleyball on such a large stage.”
Miller, who is in her fifth season at Pope, said she and Jones “have decided to put more energy into the rivalry and are getting a trophy cup to pass back and forth yearly to the winner. We are hoping to start a new tradition!”
If you wish to attend, you’re encouraged to purchase tickets online by clicking here. The general admission price is $7 with optional donations to benefit the NIAAA St Jude Children’s Hospital and the American Heart Association.
Pope High School is located at 3001 Hembree Road.
“We believe this will be one of those moments that these student-athletes will take with them for years to come. They will be able to reminisce on doing something that had never been done before!” Pope athletics director Josh Mathews said.
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