Bulldogs roll into 2nd round of state volleyball playoffs

CONYERS, Ga. - The Rockdale volleyball team kept up its perfect month of October on Thursday.

Led by a strong service game and a balanced scoring attack, the Bulldogs defeated Parkview 3-0 in the first round of the Class AAAAAA state playoffs at Cleveland Stroud Gymnasium.

Rockdale (38-13), which has won 11 consecutive matches, including six straight since the start of the month, advances to the second round for the fourth time in the last five seasons and will host either South Forsyth or Lassiter next Tuesday.

Trailing 2-0, Parkview built an early 8-4 lead in the third set, thanks to a pair of aces and a kill from Alexis Carter. Shivon Gray had three aces during a quick 5-0 spurt and that turned into an 11-2 run and gave the hosts a 15-10 cushion, forcing a Parkview timeout. The Panthers hung around and got to within a single point on two occassions - at 19-18 on Carter’s ace and after a Rockdale error the visitors from Lilburn were down just 24-23.

Gray fed University of Georgia commitment Majesti Bass for the last of her 13 match kills, which sealed a 25-23 victory and sent Rockdale back to the round of 16 for the first time since 2012.

“I think coming off that 10-minute break, that kind of just slowed our momentum down a litle bit,” Rockdale coach Stephen Sansing said of the break between the second and third sets. “I knew we would pick it back up. They’ve all been through it, they’ve experienced a lot these last couple years. I just know that I can depend on them.”

Rockdale came out with a flurry in the opening set, going up 12-5 on three aces by Gabby Church and one each from Bass and Gray. Parkview climbed to within 12-8 on three Rockdale errors and it was still just an 18-13 game when Rockdale’s top defender, Nazzerine Waldon, had an excellent dig to keep a play alive and Gray fed Bass for a kill. That was part of a 7-2, set-ending run that helped Rockdale win 25-15.

It was a 7-6 Rockdale lead during the early stages of the second set, but Gray had four more aces and the Area 2 champions scored eight straight points and held a 15-6 advantage.

Rockdale’s lead grew to 22-12 on kills by Waldon and Bass and another Church ace, then Parkview pulled to within 22-16. On the ensuing volley, Waldon kept the ball alive with a phenomenal save and was rewarded, picking up the kill to put Rockdale up 23-16. Waldon also finished the set with a kill off a feed from Gray and the Bulldogs hung on for a 25-19 victory.

Whomever the opponent in round two, it will be a familiar one. Rockdale went 0-3 in matches against Lassiter (2-0 loss on August 15) and South Forsyth (2-0 loss on August 16 and a 2-1 defeat on September 4), though each of the seven sets were close.

“I feel like we played Lassiter very early in the season, they were both close sets. I feel like we’re just a better team than we were back then,” Sansing said. “South Forsyth, I think every time we played them we’ve improved. If we come out and we play the way we can play, I feel confident against any team.”

Parkview, the No. 4 seed from Area 8, was eliminated in the first round for the third consecutive season.