We Speak Volleyball

Lovett Sweeps Hebron Christian 3-0 to Repeat as Class Private State Champions

Published

1 hour ago

November 2, 2026

The Lovett volleyball team posing with the state trophy at LakePoint.

Photo courtesy of Lovett Athletics.

Lovett left no doubt this time. The Lions swept Hebron Christian 3-0 on Saturday morning at LakePoint Sports Complex in Cartersville to win the GHSA Class Private state championship for the second straight year.

The final was a repeat of last year’s title match, when Lovett needed five sets to beat Hebron. On Saturday the Lions finished the job in three, taking the first set 25-20 and the second set 25-19 on the way to a sweep that capped a dominant postseason run and a 36-6 season.

Lovett controlled the Private bracket from start to finish. The Lions swept Wesleyan in the second round and Fellowship Christian in the quarterfinals, then handled the defending runner up Hebron again on the biggest morning of the season. The school’s athletics account opened its championship post with three words that fit the day: how sweep it is.

Hebron Christian finished 44-6 and as the state runner up for the second straight year. The Lions from Dacula reached the final with Wednesday’s five set comeback win over Mount Paran Christian in the semifinals, but they ran into a Lovett team that never let the championship match breathe.

The trophy is the third state championship in Lovett program history, following the title the Lions won last fall. Two straight finals against the same opponent have turned Lovett and Hebron into the clear top of the Private class, and for the second year in a row, the Lions from Atlanta are the ones holding the trophy at the end.

We Speak Volleyball

Columbus Stuns Top Seeded North Hall in Five Sets to Reach State Final

Published

7 minutes ago

November 2, 2026

We Speak Media

Columbus volleyball players celebrate on the court during the state semifinal.

Photo courtesy of Columbus High Athletics.

Columbus was not supposed to be here. The fifth seeded Blue Devils beat top seeded North Hall 3-2 on Tuesday in the GHSA Class AAAA state semifinals at LakePoint Sports Champions Center in Cartersville, and the win sent Columbus to the state championship match. It was the second straight five set win for the Blue Devils.

North Hall looked every bit the favorite early. The Trojans opened the first set on a 10-0 run behind the serving of Brinley Simmons and won it 25-18. Columbus answered in the second set, and senior middle hitters Leah Richardson and Taylor Myers took over at the net. Myers delivered 3 kills and 2 blocks in the final 10 points of the set as Columbus evened the match with a 25-23 win.

North Hall took the third set 25-12 and moved in front again. Columbus responded once more, with Richardson and Myers combining for 6 kills and 3 blocks while closing out a 25-18 win in the fourth set. In the fifth, Columbus finished the upset 15-7.

North Hall entered the match 41-6, riding a 21 match winning streak, and was playing in the Final Four for the second time in program history and the first time since 2017. Columbus, coached by Carson Laye, improved to 34-14 and moved on to face Oconee County in Thursday’s championship match.

The Blue Devils had already beaten Woodland Stockbridge in five sets in the quarterfinals. Against North Hall, they proved that result was no fluke, knocking out the bracket’s top seed one win short of the final.