On Tuesday, Morgan County defeated East Jackson in straight sets (25-17; 25-10; 25-12) to advance to the semifinal round of the Class AA state playoffs and continue its quest for a state title.
The first set was competitive, although the Spike Dogs dominated the Lady Eagles in the second and third, coasting to an easy victory.
Head coach Kathleen Goodwin was proud of her team’s effort.
“We’ve gone into every single match with the mindset that we’re not guaranteed to practice tomorrow or advance to the next round, but we were also feeling confident in our abilities as a program,” Goodwin said. “The girls were working and moving together. That showed tonight on the court.”
During Tuesday’s match, Goodwin believed a trip to the Final Four was inevitable when junior E’mariona Johnson stepped up after the team struggled during the first set.
The middle hitter made a few impact plays, sparking life from the crowd and bench as the Spike Dogs took over midway through the set.
“Everyone was making weird plays or errors. They were in all in their heads,” Goodwin said. “They just gave her the ball, and she was [amazing]. Everyone watched that energy lift itself up. She’s been out injured pretty much all season, playing in fits and spurts when she felt healthy as she dealt with a back strain. She emerged as the outstanding player we knew she was. She’s a leader.”
Seniors Haedyn Crumbley, Quinn Butler, Chloe Burns, and juniors Abby Dennard and Camryn Scherer also contributed. The Spike Dogs were hard to stop offensively once they got going.
With the win, Morgan County advanced to its third semifinal in five years. Each time the Spike Dogs have made it to the Final Four under Goodwin’s direction, they’ve made it to the state title match.
In 2020, Westminster of Atlanta defeated Morgan County in the state championship match. Two years later, the Spike Dogs captured their first-ever state title with a win over border rival Oconee County.
Goodwin and her team have set a precedent for making volleyball important in Morgan County.
“The program is stacked from what’s happening at the rec department to the [varsity level]. There’s a love for the sport in the community,” Goodwin said. “From the bottom up, this is a fantastic program. I think I just got in at the right place and time. These girls were already playing volleyball but weren’t with me yet. Much credit goes to Alan Shultz and his efforts at the middle school.”
Morgan County will next face Ringgold in the Final Four on Saturday at the Lovett School in Atlanta. The winner will play Savannah Arts Academy or Columbus on Nov. 2 at Lake-Point Sports Complex.
Goodwin is confident her team can win it all but wants to keep her players focused.
“I’ve said all year that this team could win state, and that’s a scary place to be,” Goodwin said. “I think the volleyball is there. They have the skills, they have the drive, they have the firing power. It’s just a matter of keeping them focused at practice and not letting them get too big for their heads. But I’ve watched film on everyone left in the bracket, and I know we have the best volleyball team in Class 2A, but the best doesn’t always win. So, I’ve got to keep them focused this week.”