Cartersville finishes runner-up, Woodland earns state berth at Region 7-AAAAA volleyball tourney

The Cartersville volleyball team earned a runner-up finish Saturday in the Region 7-AAAAA tournament and Woodland extended its season with a fourth place finish in the tournament concluded in Roswell.

Cartersville, which entered the region tournament as a No. 3-seed, lost to top-seeded Blessed Trinity in two separate matches Saturday but swept Calhoun in between those losses to earn a No. 2-seed in the Class AAAAA state playoffs.

The opening loss to Blessed Trinity was 25-13, 25-9. Cartersville then defeated Calhoun 25-12, 25-16, before falling in the finals to the Titans 25-9, 25-11.

Blessed Trinity (42-3) will start its defense of their 2020 state title as a No. 1 seed.

Cartersville (25-11) will host No. 3-seed Northview (17-23) Tuesday in the first round of the state playoffs.

Wildcats return to state playoffs

Woodland, who went 1-1 in matches Thursday with a win over Cass and a loss to Calhoun on the Yellow Jackets home court, punched their ticket to the post season with a 25-10, 25-16 win Saturday over Hiram.

The Lady Cats then dropped a 25-15, 25-22 decision to Calhoun to finish fourth. Calhoun had eliminated Cass earlier in the day.

Woodland (9-32) must go on the road Tuesday to face top-ranked St. Pius X (47-1) in the opening round of the Class AAAAA tournament.