Area teams advance in volleyball playoffs
Oct. 22—Six area high school volleyball teams have earned spots in the second round of the South Carolina High School League state playoffs after wins this week.
Four of those tickets were punched Thursday, starting with Silver Bluff's three-set sweep of Timberland in the Class AA playoffs. Silver Bluff, a No. 1 seed as the back-to-back Region 5-AA champions, won 25-11, 25-5 and 25-8. Up next will be a second-round matchup at home Tuesday against either Latta or Buford. Barnwell fell in four sets to Woodland.
Both South Aiken and North Augusta advanced with wins to the second round of the Class AAAA playoffs, where Region 5-AAAA champion Aiken is already waiting after a first-round bye. Aiken will host James Island on Tuesday.
South Aiken, the region's No. 2 seed, scored a five-set win over May River and will hit the road Tuesday to visit Region 6-AAAA champion North Myrtle Beach. Third-seeded North Augusta swept Wilson, 25-10, 25-16, 25-15, and will visit Region 7-AAAA champ Hilton Head Island on Tuesday.
Fox Creek picked up a road upset Thursday by sweeping Aynor, 25-15, 25-18, 26-24. Fox Creek, the No. 3 seed from Region 5-AAA, will be back in action Tuesday either on the road against Region 6-AAA Camden or at home against Region 8-AAA No. 4 Hanahan.
Aiken County's Class A programs were victorious Wednesday to advance to the second round. Top-seeded Wagener-Salley, which won its fifth consecutive Region 3-A title, swept McCormick 25-4, 25-13, 25-13 and will host Dixie, the No. 3 seed from Region 1-A, on Monday.
No. 2 seed Ridge Spring-Monetta knocked out region rival North in four sets, winning 25-13, 17-25, 25-18, 25-16. The Trojans will host Governor's School on Monday.
