Morgan County volleyball recently defeated Jackson in straight sets to capture the Region 2-AA title.
The Spike Dogs enter the playoffs ranked No. 1 Class AA with a 32-4 record and an undefeated mark in region play. They have set their sights on winning a second state championship in three years.
Morgan County head coach Kathleen Goodwin is proud of her team for winning another region championship. She said her team expected to win the region, and her players worked hard to do it.
“We expected to win the region [championship], but it was never guaranteed,” Goodwin told the Lake Oconee News. “I’m proud of the girls for achieving our first goal. The region title puts them in a great position going into the state tournament next week.”
Morgan County’s road to winning the region title wasn’t easy. The Spike Dogs have played a tough schedule, with non-region matches against Oconee County, Loganville Athens Academy, and Sandy Creek.
Morgan County rode an 18-game winning streak from Aug. 17 to Sept. 19. The Spike Dogs’ non-region schedule helped prepare them for facing an easy region slate.
Goodwin said the recent losses were good for her team, especially as it begins the playoffs next week.
“The girls have seen so much success but also had their first losses since August. It just shows that any team can lose on any given day,” she said. “It showed us some of the spots we must work on going into state. I’ve been reminded how versatile and resilient they are. They’ve had to play through many line-up changes due to various injuries and sicknesses, making them stronger as a team.”
Seniors Haedyn Crumbley, Quinn Butler, and Chloe Burns are performing at a high level, as expected. Others, such as junior Abby Dennard and freshman Brayden Burke, are contributing as well.
According to their coach, the Spike Dogs are peaking at the right time, and everyone is healthy.
Goodwin just wants her players not to get complacent and keep focusing on each match. She’ll lean on the experience of her three seniors to hopefully help lead the team to win another state title.
“I’m feeling really optimistic about their chances of another state title,” Goodwin said about her team’s goals. “They are jiving so well and operating like a well-oiled machine. It should be a fun ride.”