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Kenzie Henderson soars for a kill during Oglethorpe County’s victory over Aquinas last week. The Patriots earned a No. 1 seed for the Class A tournament and will host Rabun County on Wednesday, Oct. 18. (DIANA LOPEZ CRUZ/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
One thing has been on the Oglethorpe County volleyball players’ minds all season: Advance past the first round of the Class A state tournament.
That’s the goal for the Patriots (22-3), who play host to Rabun County in the first round on Wednesday, Oct. 18.
“I think it would set the bar higher and help (the county) see that we’re really a great team,” head coach Brianne Harrison said. “That’s stuff that I remind them because I have a lot of faith in these girls. There are so many talented players, and they've really gotten better as a team as the season has gone on.”
A win in the state playoffs would set a precedent for Lady Patriots volleyball. They were also a No. 1 seed last season, but were ousted in the first round by Mount Vernon.
“It is so important to us,” junior Kenzie Henderson said. “It has never happened before, and it shows people that Oglethorpe County is not just a school to brush past, but a team to prepare for.”
Also similar to last season, OCHS went undefeated in area play this year (10-0). But, the difference between the two years is evident in the Lady Patriots’ overall record.
They have 22 victories this season, seven more than last year.
“This year, the discipline is different,” Henderson said. “We are responsible for our mistakes and are growing through that mindset, which has led us to more success in games.”
Harrison said non-area matches at the beginning of the season helped the Patriots prepare for the state playoffs.
One of the first tests for OCHS this year came in August, in a 2-0 loss to Loganville Christian, the top-ranked team in Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA) 3A.
However, the Patriots had statement wins against other top teams, such as Westminster Christian, which is No. 2 in GIAA 2A.
“Any team is beatable on any given day, and that's us included,” Harrison said. “We're not perfect. We have to be ready for tougher teams that we've never seen play before. I know that's going to be different, and maybe it might be better.”