Cartersville, Woodland advance to state playoffs

Cartersville and Woodland volleyball both earned a berth in the Class AAAAA state playoffs Saturday with wins at the Region 7-AAAAA tournament.

It was Cartersvile, however, that won the region’s No. 3-seed in next week’s state tournament with a 25-21, 25-20 victory over Woodland. The Wildcats will advance as a No. 4-seed.

Cartersville’s Lily Gochee had 13 assists, two aces, and one dig in the win over Woodland. Ailee England contributed five kills, four aces, and three digs. Elizabeth Brown had four digs and three aces. Mia Nicklas totaled four kills, four digs, and one ace. Abby Allen added four digs, two kills, and an ace.

Sydney Molinaro had seven digs, seven kills, two assists, two blocks, and one ace for Woodland. Emmalee Cigainero had seven digs and one ace. Kailynn Mullinax contributed three kills, two digs, and one block. Cayley Stantz finished with five assists and two kills.

To reach the region tournament’s third place match, Cartersville defeated Cass earlier in the day 25-2 and 25-10. Woodland outlasted Hiram in three sets, 25-21, 18-25, and 15-12.

In Cartersville’s win over Cass, Gochee had 17 assists and eight aces. England finished with eight kills and three digs. Tennessee Abernathy totaled five kills and two digs. Nicklas contributed six aces, four digs, and three kills.

In Woodland’s win over Hiram, Molinaro had seven kills, seven digs, five aces, two assists, and a block. Cigainero totaled 11 digs, three aces, and two assists. Stantz finished with six digs, three assists, three aces, and one kill.

Cartersville will open the state tournament Tuesday at Villa Rica, runner-up from Region 6-AAAAA.

Woodland begins the state tournament Tuesday at North Springs. The Spartans won Region 6-AAAAA.