Columbia, SC – The Atlantic Collegiate Academy varsity volleyball team went into Saturday's tournament at Cardinal Newman High riding the momentum of have won four of their last five matches, all by scores of 3-0.
The momentum did not carry over to the tournament where the Armada posted a 1-2-2 record to finish third in the five-team event. ACA is now 20-10-5 heading into the final week of the regular season. The Armada is 9-0 in SCHSL Region 7-AA play this year.
"It was a tough day, we never got into a good rhythm," ACA coach
Larry Church said. "We were without
Ella Handley, but
Reese Feldman,
Katie McMullin and
Kathryn Delea did a nice job of filling in."
ACA opened the tournament against the host team from Cardinal Newman. The Cardinals, who won the tournament without dropping a set over five matches, improved to 34-10-6 on the year, downed the Armada 25-9, 25-19 top open the event.
The Armada came back to earn a tie against Dreher High (13-11), bouncing back after dropping the first set 25-18 to take the second set 25-19. ACA got its lone victory of the day against Batesburg-Leesville High, topping the Panthers 25-18, 25-18.
ACA then got its first chance to face off against Carolina Forest High. The Armada dropped the first set 26-24 before forcing a tie with a 25-20 victory in the second set. The two squads then squared off a second time in the tournament semi-final for the right to face the host Cardinal Newman club for the championship.
In another hard-fought match, ACA struggled in the first set, falling 25-11, but bounced back to win the second set 25-18 to force a third and final set. The Panthers were able to hold off the Armada in that set, defeating ACA 15-11.
Cardinal Newman easily handled Carolina Forest in straight sets, 25-10, 25-18, to win the tournament. ACA finished third while Dreher defeated Batesburg-Leesville to finish fourth.
The Armada will be back in action at home on Tuesday night, hosting East Clarendon for Senior Night. The junior varsity match is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start with the varsity to follow at 7 p.m.
ACA will close out the regular season on Thursday at Kingstree High. The Armada also has a home match against Mullins High that was postponed on Sept. 26 because of Hurricane Helene that may be made up prior to the start of SCHSL Tournament play on October 31.
About Atlantic Collegiate Academy: Atlantic Collegiate Academy (ACA), located in Myrtle Beach, S.C., serves high school students in a safe, small and family-centered setting. Our students seek the opportunity and challenge of rigorous curriculum, high academic standards and elite athletics while also earning up to two years of college credit. ACA serves students in grades 9-12 using an honors curriculum in 9th and 10 grades with a dual enrollment curriculum in 11th and 12th grades.
Learn more about ACA by visiting our website at AtlanticCollegiate.Academy and by following us on social media on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
