Walton volleyball

All-East Cobb state volleyball final pits Walton vs. Lassiter

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Walton and Lassiter will play for the Georgia High School Association’s Class 7A volleyball state championship this weekend after sweeping their semifinal opponents on Tuesday.Walton Volleyball team

Walton (31-8), which is seeking its fifth consecutive state title and 13th overall, downed Roswell, while Lassiter (32-7) did the same at Etowah.

Neither the Raiders nor the Trojans have lost a set during the state playoffs.

The state championship match will be played Saturday at Marietta High School (1171 Whitlock Ave.) at 6:30 p.m., after matches to determine the winners in Class 4A, 5A and 6A. Tickets are $8 per person and admission is for all the matches.

Lassiter VolleyballLassiter has never won a state championship in volleyball. The teams have met twice this season, with Walton winning by a 3-1 score in August and 3-0 in the Region 4AAAAAAA tournament.

Pope also was aiming to repeat as state champions in Class 6A, but the Greyhounds were defeated in three straight sets on Tuesday by Sequoyah, which will meet Cobb school Allatoona for the title.

The Greyhounds ended their season at 37-13.

The Walker School volleyball team has reached the finals of the GHSA’s Class 1A/2A private school division, and will play Hebron Christian Saturday at 11 a.m. at McEachern High School (2400 New Macland Road, Powder Springs). Tickets also are $8

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East Cobb volleyball update: Walton, Lassiter, Pope reach state semifinals

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Walton gym, East Cobb volleyball
Walton will play host to Roswell Tuesday in the GHSA Class 7A volleyball semifinals.

On Tuesday three East Cobb schools will continue play in the Georgia High School Association volleyball tournament, with a chance for an all-East Cobb final in Class 7A.

That’s because defending state champion Walton and Lassiter are in opposite brackets in the semifinal round.

The Lady Raiders, who are 30-8 and have been ranked No. 1 all season, will be at home Tuesday against Roswell. Match time is at 7 p.m. and admission is $8.

Walton easily downed Lambert three games to none to earn the right to stay at home for the semifinals, which has been dubbed a “jersey out” event in which Walton fans are asked to their favorite jerseys in support

Lassiter went on the road Saturday to defeat Norcross, also in three games, to get to the semifinals. It was the third straight match in which the Lady Trojans have won on their opponents’ home floor, and they’ll have to do it again Tuesday when they visit Etowah.

That match also is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Lassiter is 31-7 and Etowah is 35-13. Both are in the same Region 4 as Walton and Roswell (24-9).

In Class 6A, Pope is still in the hunt for a second consecutive state championship after sweeping River Ridge in the quarterfinals on Saturday. On Tuesday, the Lady Greyhounds (37-12) will play at Sequoyah in the semifinals. The other semifinal match features Allatoona vs. Alpharetta.

The GHSA finals in Class 6A and Class 7A will played on Saturday at Marietta High School.

 

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East Cobb sports update: Pope and Walton volleyball cruise to state titles

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For Walton, a 13th state championship in volleyball was entirely expected. For Pope, which hadn’t claimed a title in seven years, getting back into the winner’s circle was a new experience for current players and coaches.pope volleyball

On Saturday, the East Cobb teams finished up the Georgia High School Association volleyball finals at Marietta High School with convincing performances.

The Greyhounds toppled Cobb rival Allatoona in four games, 25-17, 15-25, 25-18 and 25-21, to win the 6A championship match. Pope finished with a record of 40-9 under coach Shawn Darling, who is in his second season.

Some of the team leaders for Pope this season were Stella Dees (370 kills), Zeren Yesilova (467 digs) and Eliza Dees (855 assists). While Eliza Dees is one of four seniors on this year’s team, the Greyhounds will have many of their regular players back for the 2019 season.

Other members of the Pope team include Lily Harvey, Alyssa Linde, Madison Mims, Ella Burris, Madison Cross, Ava Vikovic, Sophie Gould, Caroline Wiseman, Adair Hutchinson, Mackenzie Kahill, Renee Bissel and Brianna Dempsey.

Walton Volleyball teamAfter that, Walton took to the court against Milton, and the Raiders won in three straight games, 25-14, 25-15, 25-14, to claim the Class 7A championship. In winning a fourth consecutive state title, Walton was 41-3 on the season and did not lose to an in-state opponent.

Walton’s seniors were dominant, especially Gabby Gonzales and Riley MacNeill, who will be attending Ohio State for college.

The other Raiders seniors this season were Riley Spurlin, Jordan Rush, Caroline Cheney, Molly Pember, Meghan Froemming and Lauryn Burrows. Other team members include Madison Morey, Phoebe Awoleye, Katie Strickland, Kendall O’Brien, Sydney Barrett, Catherine Cheney, Chandler Parker, Emery Dupes, Caroline Kiehnau, Greta Hans and Aviah Miller.

This is the seventh title for Walton under head coach Suzanne Fitzgerald, who is in her 13th season.

The Pope community had another team to celebrate this weekend, as the boys cross country squad brought home the Class 6A GHSA title at the state meet in Carrollton on Friday.

The Greyhounds collected 51 points, with Harrison coming in second with 77 points (like golf, lower scores are better). Four Pope runners finished in the top 14, led by by Will Brown (8th), KC Heron (10th), Axel Mateo (11th), Cole Heron (13th) and Anthony Parisi (14th).

Also competing in the 5K race for Pope were, Conor Krause and Nicholas Corso.

The Pope girls were 4th in the Class 6A meet, which was won by region rival Cambridge. Sophie Boice of Pope finished fourth and Lorel Golden was 11th.

The Walton boys came in third in the Class 7A cross country meet. The top finisher for the Raiders was Zac Shaffer, who was 16th.

The Walton girls also were third in Class 7A, which was won by Marietta. Abigail Robertson of Walton finished in seventh place.

 

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East Cobb sports update: Pope softball finishes as state runner-up; Walton, Pope volleyball advance to semifinals

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Pope softball

Two East Cobb teams made it to the Elite 8 of the Georgia High School softball tournament this week, and turned in strong performances. The Pope softball team finished second in Class 6A, while Lassiter was third in Class 7A.

The Greyhounds came out of the elimination bracket to reach the finals in Columbus on Saturday, but fell to Cobb County rival Harrison 6-3.

Pope’s season started in August with a loss to the Hoyas. Along the way the Greyhounds compiled a 33-6 record, a school record for wins, captured their region in undefeated fashion and have now made three championship game appearances since 2012.

Lassiter also won its region and qualified for the Elite 8. On Friday, the Trojans lost to Mill Creek 3-0 in the Class 7A semifinals to end their season. Lassiter’s first loss in the double-elimination tournament was to eventual state champion East Coweta.

Also on Saturday, the Walton volleyball team rolled on in the Class 7A quarterfinals. Playing in their home gym, the Lady Raiders trounced Lambert in a sweep to advance to the semifinals on Tuesday at North Gwinnett.

The finals will be Saturday at Marietta High School.

Walton, the defending state champion, is 40-3 and is heavily favored to continue its dynastic run through the state of Georgia.

Lassiter also reached the state tournament in Class 7A, but fell to West Forsyth Saturday in the quarterfinals. The Trojans were 29-6 this season.

The Pope volleyball team also has reached the semifinals in Class 6A, and will meet Creekview on Tuesday. The Greyhounds are 38-9 on the season and defeated Glynn Academy Saturday to advance.

 

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East Cobb Sports Update: Walton, Wheeler in state volleyball; Pope, Lassiter softball reach Elite 8

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The first round of the Georgia High School Association volleyball tournament begins this weekend, and defending state champion Walton is a heavy favorite to repeat in Class 7A. Walton Volleyball team

The Raiders, who are 36-3 and have been ranked No. 1 in the state all season, will be playing host to a four-team bracket this Saturday. At noon, they will meet Colquitt County, after Wheeler plays North Cobb in a match that begins at 10 a.m.

The winners of those matches will meet on Monday in the second round.

Lassiter (27-5) also has advanced in Class 7A, but has to travel, facing Lowndes in a bracket at East Coweta.

The third round will be played next weekend, and the tournament culminates as usual for Class 7A at Marietta High School on Nov. 3.

The Pope volleyball team (35-9) will be playing Saturday against Cobb rival Harrison in a Class 6A bracket at Apalachee High School in Winder. The 6A finals also are at Marietta.

The GHSA volleyball tournament is single-elimination.

The Pope and Lassiter softball teams once again have reached the “Elite 8” in their respective classes, which is the culminating stage of the state tournament.

Both will be competing in Columbus next week after winning home doubleheaders in the second round this week.

Lassiter (25-7) swept North Paulding 1-0 and 9-1. Pope (29-4) also moved in a sweep, taking both games against Dacula by 6-0 and 6-1 scores.

On Thursday, Pope will play Greenbrier at 11 a.m. in the Class 6A bracket (click here to see more) in a return visit to Columbus. The Greyhounds have reached the Final Four four times since 2012 and were state champions in 2014.

In Class 7A, Lassiter also gets underway on Thursday in a 9 a.m. game against Brookwood (here’s that bracket).

Both tournaments are double-elimination and will conclude on Saturday.

 

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Walton volleyball wins another state title; Top 5 finish for Pope softball

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Although the match was competitive, the Georgia Class 7A finals were really never in doubt Saturday at Marietta High School. The Walton volleyball team won its third consecutive title, defeating Etowah by scores of 25-16, 25-16, and 25-21. GHSA logo, Walton volleyball

The Lady Raiders finished the season with a 41-1 record, losing only to a team from California.

The Walton players this season are: Katie Crocker, Sam Jones, Caroline Cheney, Meg Froemming, Gabby Gonzales, Reilly MacNeill, Molly Pember, Jordan Rush, Riley Spurlin, Phoebe Awoleye, Madison Morey, Kendall O’Brien, Katie Strickland, Catherine Cheney, Julia Davis, Emery Dupes, Ashlyn Goolsby and Chandler Parker. Coach: Suzanne Fitzgerald.

The Pope softball team won one game at the Georgia Class 6A softball finals in Columbus, defeating Evans Thursday on a no-hitter by freshman Hallie Adams. However, the Lady Greyhounds fell to Allatoona (the eventual state champions) and Houston County and finished 5th with a record of 31-5.

The Pope players this season are: Gracie Kittrell, Hannah Dodd, Sydney Sheahan, Jodie Smith, Leah Higginbotham, Hannah Rogers, Carolyn Deady, Kyla Smith, Lea McFadden, Trinity Pizutti, Zoe Laneaux, Mary Deady, Hallie Adams, Kami Smith, Maura Foreman, Rachel Pearle, Lela Landry, Morgan Herman, Min Brookshire, Bailey Chapin, Abby Rocco, Taylor Henson, Alyssa Eman, Kaitlyn Wells. Coach: Chris Turco.

FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: With only one week left in the regular season, only Walton has clinched a state playoff spot from East Cobb. The Raiders stayed unbeaten (9-0) with a 42-21 win over Etowah. Walton will have senior night on Friday against Woodstock. In other football games Friday:

  • Lassiter inched closer to a playoff berth by beating Cherokee 31-0. The Trojans (6-3) have to visit Etowah Friday; a win means they advance, and they could play a home playoff game.
  • Kell moved to 5-4 and within reach of a playoff spot with a 21-12 win over Woodland. The Longhorns are tied for second in Region 7, Class 6A, and play Cass on Friday;
  • Pope fell to 3-6 with a 45-17 loss to Centennial; the Greyhounds conclude their season Friday at home against Northview;
  • Sprayberry is now 2-7 following a 35-21 loss on senior night to Creekview; the Yellow Jackets play their last game of 2-17 on Friday at Sequoyah;
  • Wheeler‘s senior night also was spoiled by Westlake, which won 48-27; the Wildcats, who are 2-7, close out on Friday at Pebblebrook.

EAST COBB SPORTS UPDATE: Walton volleyball aims for three-peat on Saturday

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The Walton volleyball team will find a familiar foe on the other side of the net Saturday when the Lady Raiders attempt to win their third consecutive Georgia High School Association state championship.

Walton faces Region 4AAAAAAA rival Etowah at 6:30 p.m. in the finals at Marietta High School (1171 Whitlock Road). The Eagles have been one of the better teams in the state all season, with a 43-6 record, and they haven’t dropped a set in the state tournament.

Walton volleyball

But they’ve been no match for Walton (39-1), which has twice beaten Etowah by 3-0 scores, including the region tournament in October.

In fact, the Lady Raiders haven’t lost to a team from Georgia since 2014. Their only loss this season came in an Arizona tournament in late September to a team from California.

Here’s something else that illustrates just how dominant Walton, a longtime volleyball dynasty in Georgia, has been this season: The only other sets they’ve dropped also came to out-of-state teams.

Walton is also doing this with with only two seniors seeing regular playing time. Team leaders Gabby Gonzales, Riley Spurlin, Caroline Cheney, Reilly MacNeill and Jordan Rush are juniors.

The Pope volleyball team reached the Class 6A semifinals, but was ousted on Wednesday by defending state champion Harrison.

The Lady Greyhounds had their best finish since winning their last state title in 2011, going 33-9. While two of Pope’s top offensive players, Samantha Walters and Danielle Bissel, are seniors, there is plenty of talent returning. As a freshman, Stella Dees was second on the team with 284 kills.

In the Class 6A softball tournament in Columbus, Pope split opening-round games on Thursday. In the opener, Hallie Adams pitched a no-hitter as the Greyhounds defeated Evans 2-0. However, they lost to Cobb County rival Allatoona 1-0 in Thursday evening and move to a losers bracket game Friday afternoon, meeting Houston County at 2 p.m.

EAST COBB HALLOWEEN EVENTS: Trunk or Treats; Pope Dead Band Running 5K; Holiday Décor Market and more

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East Cobb Halloween events

Don’t need much of a drumroll introduction for what’s coming up over the next few days. The East Cobb Halloween events calendar is absolutely loaded (and if we’ve missed your event there’s still time to let us know. E-mail calendar@eastcobbnews.com and we’ll post it!). So many trunk or treat events, assorted fall festivals and a new spooky event that may become a bonafide tradition: The Pope Dead Band Running 5K. Pope also has a Haunted Theater presentation of “The Dollhouse” to ramp up a frightening selection of Halloween-themed events

Also on tap this weekend is the Sprayberry Hall of Fame Gala and two final events of the fall that have become community stand-bys: Sunday Funday at East Cobb Park, and the Paper Mill Village Food Truck on Monday:

  • Trunk or Treats galore: Kicking off Friday at 6 at Addison ES, and including similar events for kids at St. Catherine’s Episcopal on Saturday, Wesley Chapel UMC on Sunday and on Halloween itself, at Powers Ferry UMC;Pope Dead Band Running 5K, East Cobb Halloween events
  • Run for Your Haunted Lives: A 5K run at night? In the spirit of Halloween, that’s what the Pope High School Marching Band has put together from 7-9 Saturday at the Mountain View Aquatic Center (2650 Gordy Parkway): The Pope Dead Band Running 5K, and you can show up in a costume or regular running attire. The proceeds raise funds for the band, which says it needs to replace Bessie, its aging equipment truck. Race-day registration begins at 6 p.m.;
  • Terrifying dollies: The Pope Haunted Theater gets into the spirit of Halloween with presentations of “The Dollhouse” Saturday and Sunday at $6, after two previous shows this week;
  • Last Call for Pumpkin Patches: They’re on sale at a few East Cobb churches through Halloween;
  • Get Your Pumpkin Carving On: Once you get your pumpkin, bring it on by the Mountain View Regional Library (3320 Sandy Plains Road) from 2-3 on Saturday for a carving event. It’s ideally for kids K-5 to enjoy, but you can come by even if you’re older;
  • Shopping for the kitties: With Halloween near, it also means it’s time for the Good Mews Holiday Décor Market, which starts Saturday at the Sandy Plains Exchange Shopping Center (1860 Sandy Plains Road, at Scufflegrit Road). The hours are 10-6 Saturdays and 12-6 Sundays, and the sale continues through Dec. 17. The proceeds benefit the Good Mews programs to care and place homeless cats for adoption, and they’re taking gently-used items on-site on Saturday until 3 p.m.;
  • All the way to state: The high school football season is winding down, with only two games left. Walton has already clinched a state playoff berth, and Lassiter and Kell have the best chances of joining them. But the biggest high school sporting events this weekend involve the young ladies of East Cobb. On Saturday, Walton attempts a three-peat in the Class 7A state volleyball finals against Etowah (6 p.m., Marietta High School, 1171 Whitlock Ave.). In Columbus, the Pope softball team is competing in the Class 6A softball finals, which got underway Thursday. We’ll be posting updates on these events as we get the results, so keep checking back for the latest scores;
  • Piedmont Church Fall Festival: Sunday will be an all-day and all-night of activities at the Piedmont Church (570 Piedmont Road). Sunday morning services will be followed by a family fall festival from 6-8, including pumpkin painting, a petting zoo and food. The event is free and open to the public.

Check out our full calendar listings page for more things to do this weekend and beyond. Did we miss something? Have an event you’d like to share with the East Cobb community? E-mail your calendar listing to: calendar@eastcobbnews.com and we’ll post it ASAP! Here’s more information on how to send your news to East Cobb News!

Have a great weekend!

Walton, Pope volleyball teams play home matches Saturday in state tournament

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The Walton and Pope volleyball teams will be playing host to Georgia High School Association state quarterfinal matches on Saturday.

The Walton Raiders, defending state champions and ranked No. 1 in Class 7A, will entertain South Forsyth at 2 p.m. in the Walton gym, aka The Pit. The Raiders are 37-1 on the season, and their only loss came in recently in an Arizona tournament to Mater Dei of California, which is ranked in the Top 10 nationally.Walton HS logo, Walton Pope volleyball

The Walton team is marking the match as a “black out”—asking fans to wear black. If you need something black to wear, they’ll be selling Black Pit Crew t-shirts and hoodies at the match.

According to the latest national rankings by MaxPrep, Walton is at No. 2 in the country and is the only school from Georgia in the Top 25.

At 3 p.m. Saturday, the Pope Greyhounds (32-8), will take on Greenbrier of Evans, Ga. (near Augusta). The Greyhounds are repeating their 2016 trip to the Class 6A Elite Eight and are looking for their first state championship since 2011.

Lassiter’s season ended earlier this week in a state tournament loss to East Coweta. The Trojans finished with a record of 18-11.

Admission to both the Walton and Pope volleyball matches Saturday is $5. The winners will advance to the semifinals next Wednesday.

The state championship round takes place next Saturday, Oct. 28, at Marietta High School.