Conway, SC – The Atlantic Collegiate Academy varsity volleyball team clinched the school's first Region title on Tuesday night with a 3-0 victory over East Clarendon on Senior Night at the ACA "Flight Deck".
 
The Armada improved to 21-10-5 overall on the season with the victory, but a perfect 10-0 in SCHSL Region 7-AA play.
 
Not to be outdone, the ACA junior varsity squad also posted a victory over visiting Wolverines, winning 2-0 to improve to 10-1 on the year. Like the varsity, the JV is unbeaten (9-0) against region opponents.
 
"I honestly didn't know we could clinch going into the match," ACA head coach Larry Church said. "I am excited for the girls to win their first region title in school history. We have talked about it being a step in our progress towards success in the playoffs, so to see them do it is awesome."
 
East Clarendon gave the Armada a battle in the first set, with ACA taking it by a score of 25-17. The Armada had a much easier time in winning the second set 25-8 before closing out the match with another 25-17 score in the third set.
 
Seniors Ella Handley and Reese Feldman were honored prior to the match, and it was only appropriate that they led the Armada to the victory. Feldman's night proved to a lucky one as she recorded seven service aces, seven kills and seven digs. Handley had seven kills to go with three digs and a pair of service aces.
 
Junior setter Kylie Jones led the offensive attack by recording 17 assists while also picking up one service ace. Sophomore Zoey Rushman, also a setter, didn't allow any slippage in the offensive attack, recording nine assists during her time on the court.
 
Junior middle hitter Ava Reyes had five kills on the night while junior right-side hitter Katie McMullin had a pair of kills to go with three service aces. Junior middle hitter Savina Pimental had an all-around performance with two aces, two digs, three kills and one solo block. Sophomore libero Addison Autry led the team with nine digs.
 
The Armada junior varsity posted a 25-10 victory in its first set to open the night and followed with a 25-21 win in th second set to clinch the match.
 
Freshman setter Ava Holland earned 14 points with her solid service attack and added six assists. Freshman libero Halle Bain chipped in with five digs in the victory.
 
"This was a great performance by the junior varsity team," coach Justin Stack said. "I am so proud of them for their efforts this season. We are looking forward to closing out the season on a strong note on Thursday night."
 
Both Armada teams are scheduled to close out the regular season on Thursday night at Kingstree High. The JV match is slated for a 5:30 p.m. start with the varsity to follow at 7 p.m.
 
The SCHSL championship tournament is scheduled to begin on October 31, Halloween night, with the Armada hosting the No. 4 team from Region 4. The Armada is guaranteed an opportunity to play at home for each of the first three rounds of the state tournament before they would go on the road to play in the state semifinals on November 12.
 
The state championship in Class AA will be determined at noon on November 16 at Dreher High School in Columbia.

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.