We Speak Volleyball

North Forsyth Beats Brookwood 3-1 for the First State Title in Program History

Published

1 hour ago

November 2, 2026

The North Forsyth volleyball team in State Champs shirts with the trophy.

Photo courtesy of North Forsyth Volleyball.

North Forsyth made history on Saturday night. The Raiders beat Brookwood 3-1 at LakePoint Sports Complex in Cartersville to win the GHSA Class 7A state championship, the first state title in program history and the first GHSA volleyball state championship ever won by a school from Forsyth County.

Brookwood struck first, taking the opening set 26-24. North Forsyth answered with three straight sets, 25-17, 25-16 and 25-19, closing out the match and setting off a celebration the program had never had before. Both teams came into the final chasing a first state championship, and for three sets the Raiders were simply the steadier team.

North Forsyth finished the season 35-2. The Raiders won Region 6 with a 10-0 record, went undefeated at home, and saved their best week for last. They swept Denmark in the quarterfinals, then knocked out defending champion Walton in five sets in Wednesday’s semifinal to reach the title match.

The team’s own words after the win said it best: 35-2, region champions, undefeated in region play, undefeated at home, state champions. The post called the group a history making team and noted that the title was not even close to defining who they are, a team that served one another and believed in one another all season.

Brookwood finished 41-7 as the state runner up after beating Harrison in the semifinals. The Broncos’ season ended one match short, while North Forsyth’s ended with the trophy, the medals, and a first banner that will stay up in Cumming for good.

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.