Landmark Christian halts Gordon Lee’s state volleyball run

The Gordon Lee Lady Trojans 2016 volleyball team will have to settle for being the best public school team in all of Class 1A.

Gordon Lee, the only non-private school in the entire Sweet 16, didn’t make it easy for 2015 Class 1A state runner-up Landmark Christian, but eventually bowed out of the playoffs with a 25-19, 25-18, 25-21 loss to the War Eagles Wednesday night in Fairburn.

Emma Boles had 13 kills for the Lady Trojans. Hannah Lee finished with 32 digs. Sidney Pierce collected 18 assists and Gracie O’Neal recorded five blocks.

The Lady Trojans finished the season with a 32-13-2 overall record and were the Area 4 runners-up.

“This was one of the best teams that I have ever coached,” coach Tricia Goodwin said. “I think the referee at the Atlanta tournament went we to sort of summed us up. We walked up for the coin toss and he said ‘wow, you all are small’. After the match, he came to me and said he was impressed at the depth and heart we played with and said that for being small, we sure could hang I was so proud.

“We had some injuries this season that we had to work through, but we will hang our hat on being the best public school team in Class 1A.”

With a good nucleus returning, the Lady Trojans should be solid again next season. However, Goodwin said her senior class will be tough to replace.

“We have a lot of experience coming back with three freshmen that played all year in the starting lineup,” she continued. “Aubree Yancee and Summer Fitzpatrick bring dominance at the net. However, you can’t replace a Hannah Lee. Sidney Pierce’s talent is a huge hole that we have to fill and Emma Boles’ fire will need to be found in someone. I am hopeful that all three of them will find a place to play in college.”