Volleyball playoffs on tap this week
LowcoSports.com
The Bridges Prep volleyball team is up a classification since last fall’s magical run to the state title match, but the Buccaneers appear to be just as equipped to make a deep run again in this year’s Class 2A bracket.
After returning virtually everyone from last year’s Class 1A runner-up squad, the Bucs carry a 31-5-3 record into the postseason, including a perfect 10-0 mark in region play — and they didn’t drop a set against region opponents.
Another thing working in Bridges Prep’s favor is the fact the Bucs will have home-court advantage beginning with a first-round matchup Thursday against York Prep and continuing all the way through the Lower State final, as long as they survive.
To get back to the state finals and get another shot at a ring, Bridges will likely have to knock off Academic Magnet in the second round and undefeated North Central in the third round before a potential showdown with Philip Simmons in the Lower State championship.
The boys volleyball teams from Battery Creek and Bridges Prep begin their postseason journey on the road Wednesday. The Dolphins travel to Oceanside Collegiate, while the Buccaneers head to Bluffton for a first-round matchup.
The girls from Beaufort High and Battery Creek open on the road Thursday, with the Eagles at Region 6-4A champion Bishop England and the Dolphins making the long trek to Waccamaw in Class 3A.
JPII boys XC 2nd at state
John Paul II’s boys cross country team fell one point short of another state title Saturday at Heathwood Hall, finishing with 72 points to Wilson Hall’s 71 in a tight race for the SCISA 4A crown.
Sebastian Frickel led the way with a fifth-place finish in 16:26, with teammate Blake Hubik (16:30) close behind in the seventh. Matthew Yanachik (17:03) finished 12th, Brayden Frickel (17:17) was 18th, and James Hook (17:36) placed 30th for the Golden Warriors. Hook was the only senior in the lineup.
JPII’s girls finished seventh behind an eighth-place finish from Ayla Reynolds, who finished in 19:14.
In SCISA 2A, Holy Trinity’s boys placed fourth with Beaufort Academy in seventh. Holy Trinity’s Silas Bolen finished fifth in 18:17, and teammate Barnes Gooding was ninth in 18:58.
Tennis postseason set to begin
Battery Creek’s girls tennis team will host a first-round Class 3A playoff match against Keenan on Thursday in a matchup of No. 3 seeds from their respective regions, while Beaufort travels to Bishop England for a Region 6-4A rematch in the Class 4A first round.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
SCHSL 4A 1st Round
Airport at May River
Hilton Head at Bishop England
Battery Creek at Oceanside Collegiate
Bridges Prep at Bluffton
THURSDAY, OCT. 31
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
SCHSL 4A 1st Round
Beaufort at Bishop England
Hilton Head at South Florence
Bluffton at South Aiken
North Augusta at May River
SCHSL 3A 1st Round
Battery Creek at Waccamaw
SCHSL 2A 1st Round
York Prep at Bridges Prep
Lake City at Hampton Co.
SCHSL 1A 1st Round
Hardeeville at Carvers Bay
GIRLS TENNIS
SCHSL 4A 1st Round
Beaufort at Bishop England
Hartsville at May River
Brookland-Cayce at Hilton Head
Bluffton at Wilson
SCHSL 3A 1st Round
Keenan at Battery Creek
