The Walton volleyball team trounced Cherokee 3-0 on Tuesday (by scores of 25-12, 25-15 and 25-15) to move to 4-0 on the season.
The win was the 101st consecutive victory against a team from the state of Georgia for the Lady Raiders, who are the state’s most dominant volleyball team.
When they next take the court on Tuesday, Aug. 27 against Roswell, it will be for the first time in the new Walton gym. The match starts at 5 p.m and is a region contest.
Walton has won 13 state titles overall and eight in the last nine years and was declared the 2017 national high school champion by PrepVolleyball. USA Today has the Lady Raiders ranked No. 22 in its first national poll of the season. MaxPreps has Walton ranked 26th after the graduation of 2019 seniors Gabby Gonzalez, Reilly MacNeill, Riley Spurlin, Meghan Froemming and Jordan Rush.
This year, senior Madison Morey and junior Emery Dupes are among Walton’s top experienced returning players. The listed varsity team members include the following, with some already announcing their college choices:
- Seniors: Phoebe Awoleye (University of Georgia), Madison Morey (University of Virginia), Katie Strickland (Georgia State University), Kendall O’Brien (Marist College), Sydney Barrett;
- Juniors: Emery Dupes (Florida State University), Ashlyn Goolsby, Lia Ekendahl, Catherine Cheney, Chandler Parker, Kaye Gresham, Paeton Stoner, Olivia Langham;
- Sophomores: Greta Hans, Aviah Miller, Avery Storm, Vera Laytham, Sophie Barrett, Laura Middleton, Elizabeth Curry;
- Freshmen: Mary Neal, Clara Paulsen, Elizabeth Cheney, Maya Szkaradek.
The coach is Suzanne Fitzgerald, who is in her 14th season at Walton, where she also teaches English.
After next week’s game against Roswell, the Lady Raiders will step out of state to compete in a tournament in Sarasota, Fla. They also will travel to competitions in Louisville and Phoenix during the regular season.
On Sept. 17, Walton will visit Lassiter, currently ranked No. 2 in Georgia, in an East Cobb and regional showdown.
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