Prep Roundup: Volleyball team advances to Elite Eight

  • Sydnie Henderson finished 11th with a time of 20:21 at the North Oconee Invitational on Oct. 19. Cory Tillman, who finished in 18:46, had the top time among the OCHS boys. (STEVE COLQUITT/FOR THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
    Sydnie Henderson finished 11th with a time of 20:21 at the North Oconee Invitational on Oct. 19. Cory Tillman, who finished in 18:46, had the top time among the OCHS boys. (STEVE COLQUITT/FOR THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
  • Nora Turner (17) and Sofia Horsley (27) watch OCHS teammate Elizabeth Cook make a shot on Oct. 16. Cook was selected as the Area 8 player of the year earlier this month. (TY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
    Nora Turner (17) and Sofia Horsley (27) watch OCHS teammate Elizabeth Cook make a shot on Oct. 16. Cook was selected as the Area 8 player of the year earlier this month. (TY JOHNSTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
  • Oglethorpe County coach Mike Holland speaks to his players following their 55-14 loss to Commerce on Oct. 19. The Patriots fell to 0-8 this season heading into this week’s game at Providence. (WOODY LOFTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
    Oglethorpe County coach Mike Holland speaks to his players following their 55-14 loss to Commerce on Oct. 19. The Patriots fell to 0-8 this season heading into this week’s game at Providence. (WOODY LOFTON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

    Oglethorpe County volleyball coach Brianne Harrison said she’s “99% sure” this year’s volleyball team has advanced farther than any other team in program history.

     

    The Patriots (21-7) moved to the Elite Eight of the Class A tournament with straight-set victories over Haralson County (first round on Oct. 16) and ACE Charter (second round on Oct. 19).

     

    They were scheduled to play at Elite Scholars, a magnet school in Jonesboro, at 6 p.m. Wednesday, which is after The Echo’s weekly deadline.

     

    “We’re all excited and I’m proud of them for getting to this point,” Harrison said. “They’re working hard all the time. I think they finally bought into the fact they could be this good. I’m proud of them and proud that I’m their coach.”

     

    A victory would send the Patriots to the Class A semifinal, which will be played at Holy Innocents’ on Saturday, Oct. 26. 

     

    Elizabeth Cook, the Area 8-A player of the year, and Leanna Newton have combined for 200 kills, and Kenzie Henderson has the Patriots’ highest hitting efficiency.

     

    “They’re real dominant,” Harrison said.

     

    She said Sofia Horsley is “setting them up for success. She’s doing her job.”

     

    Football team falls to 0-8

     

    Payton Prince rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown, but Commerce defeated the OCHS football team 55-14 last Friday.

     

    The Patriots fell to 0-8 and 0-4 in Region 8-A Division I.

     

    Darius Heard added 86 yards and a score.

     

    Defensively, Clint Graham had eight tackles, and O’Maury Huggs and Matthew Martin had five tackles each.

     

    OCHS plays at Providence Christian (1-7, 0-4) on Friday before closing out the season with a home game against Banks County (1-7, 1-3) at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1.

     

    Henderson shines at North Oconee

     

    Sydnie Henderson finished 11th with a time of 20:21 at the North Oconee Invitational on Oct. 19.

     

    Elin Turner (23:49),  Flor Padilla (27:58), Evelyn Arvizu (28:09) and Pricila Salas Lopez (28:17) had the top times for OCHS.
    For the OCHS boys, Cory Tillman (18:46), John Adams (19:27), Ethan McLean (19:35), Dominic Piscitelli (20:32) and Josiah Young (21:07) posted the top times.

     

    “It was a great race day for everyone,” coach Jessica Ward said. “We had some PRs and are very proud of how hard they ran and have been working this season.”