GHSA Volleyball State Championship Updates from Thursday

Morgan County (33-12) defended its Class 2A state title and won its third championship in the past four seasons on Thursday with a 3-1 victory over Ringgold (34-12). The Bulldogs trailed 10-8 in the first set before sparking a 10-0 run that gave them an 18-10 lead.

Sophomore Braden Burke closed out the 25-16 victory with back-to-back aces. Morgan County led 18-10 again in the second half, but Ringgold rallied and cut it to 24-23 before Natalie Phillips clinched the set with a block in the middle of the net. Ringgold forced a fourth set with a 25-12 win in the third set before the Bulldogs closed out the title with a 25-22 victory in the fourth frame. Senior setter Abby Dennard—who came up big with a career-high 35 kills in the semifinal victory over Savannah Arts was named Morgan & Morgan MVP of the match.

See the other recaps below.

Walton 3, Alpharetta 1

Walton celebrated its 16th all-time state title and first since 2021 with a tactical 3-1 (16-25, 25-23, 25-21, 27-25) victory over top-ranked and two-time defending state champion Alpharetta. Momentum began to shift in the second set as Alpharetta’s five serving errors created an opportunity for first-year head coach Ashley Jones and her talented Walton lineup to even up the match. Walton weathered jumped out to a six-point lead and then weathered the storm and closed out the set with senior Ashley Gomes sparking the attack 25-23. Walton kept Alpharetta on the back foot throughout the third set and shocked the crowd with deep kills from Duquesne University commit Simone Searles and clutch plays from senior Ashlee Gomes. Alpharetta freshman Susie Dai gave her team a 13-11 lead in the fourth set with her well-placed assists and serving, but Walton’s sophomore Addison Contestabile seized the momentum and willed Walton to a championship-clinching 27-25 victory.

Class 4A

Marist 3, Pace Academy 2

Marist denied top-ranked Pace Academy a ninth-straight state championship and captured its first championship since 2021 and 11th all-time crown with an unforgettable five-set marathon that the War Eagles clinched with a 24-22 victory in the fifth set. Marist pulled ahead 14-13 and had match point in the fifth set, but Pace Academy tied it up 14-14 on a kill by senior Jolie Litvak. The teams battled more than a dozen match points—including a 22-21 lead by Pace Academy with Litvak serving. The War Eagles handled the pressure and junior Katie Elder found the corner on a kill down the line to even it up 22-22. Marist junior and lefty Grace Kipers served the next point and the long rally ended with a powerful kill by Elder—setting up the final match point. Leading 23-22, Kipers served up another rally before Elder clinched the title with a kill up the middle. Pace Academy won the first set 25-19, but Marist answered with consecutive 25-23 victories to take a 2-1 lead. The Knights forced the fifth set with a 25-16 victory before Marist closed it out with the 24-22 victory

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