The Griffin Christian Lady Crusaders volleyball team finished 28-3 overall and were GISA Class AA state runners-up this season. They are, front row from left: Coach Charles Stephens, Leyah Brown, Abby Yarbrough, Brittany Foster, Cara Grobbelaar and coach Melanie Foster. Back row from left: Katy Hammond, Brittany Brogdon, Savannah Newman, Madison Bertelsbeck, Ruby Mathews and Mary Kate Blalock. (Photo courtesy of Hope Hammond)
Unfortunately for the Lady Crusaders, they fell one match short of their first GISA state title, losing the state finals in three games to the Frederica Academy Lady Knights last Saturday afternoon at Augusta Prep Day School.
The Lady Crusaders lost 20-25, 18-25 and 21-25 to end their outstanding season at 28-3 overall and finish as the 2012 Class AA state runners-up.
“We had a great, great season but Saturday just wasn’t our day. I have to give credit to Frederica; they played very well,” said GC coach Melanie Foster. “We made some mistakes that we normally don’t make and I don’t believe they made any mistakes and that won them the state title.”
GC might have been a bit nervous against Oak Mountain, a team it swept twice during the regular season. GC swept Oak Mountain again Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals but they had to really earn it this time, winning 26-24, 25-21 and 25-12 to make it to the state Final Four. The Final Four match was even more tense for GC fans, as it took four games for GC to beat Heirway Christian Friday evening.
GC won the first two games against Heirway 25-12, 25-18 but GC setter Madison Bertelsbeck hurt her knee and ankle after teammate Brittany Foster accidently fell onto her in Game 2, changing the complexion of the match. GC senior Abby Yarbrough started at setter in Game 3, but Heirway pulled out the win at 24-26.
“Abby stepped up for us when we needed her,” said coach Foster. “We lost Game 3, but she did her best.”
Bertelsbeck came back during Game 4 and the Lady Crusaders toughed out a 25-23 win to advance to the state finals. The excited Lady Crusaders bounced around in celebration.
The excitement was muted the next day, as Frederica swept through GC and won the Class AA state championship.
“We dug a hole in each game and we just couldn’t rally enough to win any of them,” coach Foster said. “But I’m proud of the girls. They fought hard all season long and showed tremendous character and resolve. We had a lot of fun this year.”
Senior Brittany Foster still gets to play some volleyball, as she was named to the GISA All-Star team. The GISA All-Stars will face the South Carolina ISA (SCISA) All-Stars Nov. 3 at noon at Stratford Academy in Macon.
GRIFFIN CHRISTIAN VOLLEYBALL
Date Opponent Time
8/20 Heritage W 3-1
8/21 @ Stratford W 3-1
8/24 Sherwood* W 3-0
8/25 Trinity JV% W 3-0
8/25 Skipstone% W 3-0
8/27 @ Heritage W 3-1
8/28 Holy Spirit W 3-1
8/30 Oak Mtn. W 3-0
9/4 Heirway W 3-0
9/6 Stratford W 3-0
9/10 Skipstone W 3-0
9/11 @ Arlington W 3-0
9/13 @ Mt. de Sales W 3-1
9/17 Harvester W 3-2
9/18 @ Skipstone W 3-0
9/20 @ Calvary L 3-0
9/24 Arlington W 3-0
9/25 @ Holy Spirit W 3-2
9/27 Mt. de Sales W 3-0
9/28 @ Sherwood* W 2-1
9/28 @ Grace* W 2-0
10/2 Calvary L 3-0
10/5 @ Grace W 2-0
10/5 @ Lafayette* W 2-1
10/9 Lafayette* W 2-0
10/16 @ Oak Mtn. W 3-0
10/18 @ Heirway W 3-0
***STATE TOURNAMENT***
10/22 Gatewood W 3-0
10/26 vs. Oak Mtn W 3-0
10/26 vs. Heirway W 3-1
10/27 vs. Frederica L 3-0
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