Charleston, SC – The Atlantic Collegiate Academy varsity volleyball team took a 12-game win streak into play at the Iron Horse Invitational, host by Philip Simmons High over the weekend.
Although the Armada saw that streak come to an end against some very tough competition in the tournament, ACA did earn a first for the program, downing Horry County foe Socastee High in the Silver Bracket quarterfinals on Saturday evening.
"It was a long weekend of good competition," Armada head coach
Larry Church said. "We played 18 sets in a 24-hour period so, to say we are tired would be an understatement. It was certainly exciting to play against a Horry County team and get a victory."
ACA opened tournament play on Friday with matches against Hedgesville (W.Va.) High, Porter Gaud and James Island Charter. The Armada dropped their first two matches, falling in straight sets (0-2) to Hedgesville (18-25, 21-25) and Porter Gaud (15-25, 21-25). The team bounced back in its final match Friday night to tie James Island 1-1 (matches in tournament pool play were limited to two sets). The Armada took the first set 25-20 before dropping the second 18-25.
The teams were reshuffled into new pools on Saturday based on results from play on Friday. The Armada opened play Saturday morning against Palmetto Christian, falling 2-0 (18-25, 21-25). ACA followed up with a victory over Ashley Hall (25-20, 25-20) before falling to West Ashley in a close match (26-28, 21-25).
Those results put the Armada in the Silver Bracket where they squared off against Socastee in the quarterfinals. Bracket play featured a return to best of three set play. The Armada dropped the opening set 23-25 before bouncing back to win 25-20 and 20-18, advancing to the semifinal of the bracket.
ACA played another three-set nail-biter against Hanahan in that semifinal match, dropping the opening set 15-25 before evening the match at 1-1 with a 26-24 win. Hanahan advanced to the bracket final with a 15-10 win in the third set.
Overall, ACA posted a 2-4-1 record in the tournament, leaving the Armada's overall record on the season at 15-7-3.
Senior outside hitter
Reese Feldman was selected to the All-Tournament team while ACA senior
Ella Handley and juniors
Addison Autry and
Kylie Jones received votes.
The Armada will be right back in action tonight when they host Kingstree High at "The Flight Deck" in what will be the final 7-AA match for the first half of the season. ACA is a perfect 5-0 in Region play so far this year. Prior to the varsity match at 7 p.m., there will be a junior varsity match, with a scheduled start time of 5:30 p.m.
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.
