The GHSA volleyball state championships wrapped up in early November, with several of the favorites reigning supreme in each classification. However, for every team lauded for their impressive record, there was a squad whose win totals did not accurately represent its performance. Following is a look at seven Georgia high school volleyball teams that cannot be judged simply by their record.
Walton (19-14)
The Raiders, who have won 15 state volleyball championships since 1998, once again made a semifinals appearance, but fell short against Lambert. A 19-win season might leave the impression it was a down year for Walton, but tough regular-season competition masked a very competitive squad.
Eleven of the Raiders’ 14 losses came against out-of-state opponents such as Dorman (SC), Trinity Catholic (FL), and St. Thomas Aquinas (FL). Walton scored sweeps over North Cobb, Cherokee, and Peachtree Ridge, all of whom reached the second round in this season’s 7A playoffs. A largely national schedule gave the appearance of a worse Walton squad than was actually the case.
West Forsyth (27-17)
The Wolverines were swept in the first round of the state playoffs by North Cobb, but that shouldn’t take away from their amazing 2022 campaign. West Forsyth notched early-season wins over the eventual 6A champion, Pope, and St. Pius X, who ended the season with 36 victories.
While the Wolverines suffered several upsets, they remained competitive in ranked matchups and defeated numerous playoff opponents. Dominant wins over Georgia high school volleyball teams South Forsyth and Denmark gave the Wolverines the second seed in their region, and they even managed to take a set off the eventual state champions, Lambert, in the region title match.
Etowah (22-14)
Many of those 14 losses came during a mid-season slump, during which the Eagles lost seven matches in a row. However, at their best, Etowah was able to sweep Lassiter, Houston County, Woodstock, Allatoona, and many other Georgia high school volleyball teams with winning percentages greater than .500.
Disregarding that seven-match losing streak, the Eagles were a hallmark of consistency, defeating opponents they were projected to and posting competitive opening sets against the state’s best competition, such as Sequoyah. The Eagles’ unfortunate placement in the bracket led them to a second-round matchup against Pope, which they lost as expected.
Johns Creek (24-15)
The Gladiators would have been more of a true playoff threat with more match-to-match consistency. Johns Creek swept both Blessed Trinity and Collins Hill in late-season rematches, but failed to win the first meeting each time. They also scored a 3-1 victory over Lassiter, but fell to the Trojans in a sweep just over a month later.
There were flashes of brilliance in sweeps of Class A semifinalist Mt. Pisgah, West Forsyth, and Dunwoody, but the Gladiators couldn’t find the consistency needed to hang with a title contender. A favorable playoff quadrant allowed Johns Creek to advance to the semifinals, likely the limit of the team’s capabilities last season.
Heritage-Ringgold (32-7)
How could a team with 32 wins possibly make this list? Well, the Generals were largely disregarded because of their lack of schedule strength. However, upon closer inspection, the Generals actually proved they could compete with the best Georgia high school volleyball teams.
Heritage notched wins over Dalton (31 wins), Kell (36 wins), and Dade County (27 wins). They also forced a tiebreaking third set against 3A semifinalist White County and nearly took the second set against 42-win North Forsyth. They even avenged two losses against Sonoraville with a sweep of the Phoenix, proving they were capable of handling higher competition.
Blessed Trinity (12-20)
The Titans may have had the hardest schedule of all Georgia high school volleyball teams. They opened the season against eleven straight playoff opponents, many of whom reached the quarterfinals.
Blessed Trinity earned wins over Johns Creek, Etowah, McIntosh, and Sandy Creek, but impressed more so in their losses. They forced 42-2 North Gwinnett to a third set and did the same twice against North Cobb. The Titans made St. Pius X earn a three-set win as well. With a slightly easier schedule, Blessed Trinity would have easily been a 25-win squad.
Hart County (25-14)
Hart County’s season ended after a first-round playoff upset against Wesleyan. However, there would have been a great chance that the Bulldogs could have reached the quarterfinals at the least. They had already defeated Wesleyan once this season and had proven to be a threat in 3A with victories over Tallulah Falls (the A champion), Hebron Christian, and Madison County.
Four of their losses came against Jackson County and Jefferson, and the Bulldogs were able to force a third set twice. The ceiling for Hart County will never be realized due to that upset sweep in the first round against Wesleyan.
