Lafayette 10-under volleyball team wins state in Carrollton

12-under squad finishes as state runner-up

After winning the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association district volleyball championship last month, the 10-under Lafayette Blazing Ramblers added a state championship to its trophy collection over the weekend.

Playing in the GRPA state tournament in Carrollton, Lafayette opened on Friday with a 25-19 victory over Madison County to advance in the winners’ bracket. They defeated Calhoun, 25-23, in the winners’ bracket final later on Saturday, but would face Calhoun again in the finals after Calhoun battled back through the elimination bracket.

The Blazing Ramblers fell 2521 in the match- up, meaning there would be one final match to determine the championship in the double-elimination event.

And in that final match, LaFayette rebounded with a 25-20 victory over Calhoun to claim the title.

Team Beast, the 12-under state qualifier from Lafayette, made it to the finals of their state tournament, but ran up against an old nemesis in the championship.

Lafayette began the tournament on Friday with a 25-10 rout of Jefferson, but dropped a 2516 decision to the same Dalton that defeated them for the district title in October.

Team Beast answered by powering its way to three straight wins later on Saturday, knocking off Madison County (25-12), Carrollton ( 25- 13) and South Bryan County (25-20) to earn a rematch with Dalton, needing two wins to claim the state crown.

However, Dalton would not let it happen as they defeated Lafayette, 25-22.

Scott Herps The Lafayette Blazing Ramblers, pictured here after winning the GRPA District 5 10U Volleyball championship at LFO High School on Sunday, Oct. 25, captured the GRPA state 10-under title on Saturday in Carrollton. Team members include (front row, from left) Anna Hambrick, Bristol Ray, Sunny Hughes and Jaylee Chapman. On the back row is Coach Angela Tucker, Breezy White, Ella Donahue, Kaylee Wallin, Malley Miller-petrel and Coach Mindy Petrel.