BEARVILLE — Sixthranked Pierce County’s 2024 volleyball season came to a close Wednesday in the first round of the Class AA state tournament with visiting 10thranked Hart County advancing via a 3-0 win.
The Lady Bears (22-12), who climbed as high as No. 2 in the polls, entered the field of 32 teams as ninth seed hosting its first-ever playoff match in their third season of play. The Lady Bulldogs were seeded 24th.
Hart County posted a 25-20, 25-18, 25-21 victory, one of 15 3-0 decisions in the 16-match opening round.
It was also one of six matchups with the lower seed advancing. Ninthranked and 17th-seed Sonoraville bested 16th-seed Johnson of Augusta, 28thseed Spencer beat No. 8 and fifth-seed Miller Grove, 21st-seed Union County knocked off 12thseed Redan, 19th-seed Appling County beat 14th-seed Pike County and 18th-seed Rockmart ousted 15th-seed Crisp County.
Sonoraville fell in the second round to topranked and No. 1 seed Morgan County, Hart County was ousted by fifth-ranked and eighthseed East Jackson, Spencer lost to Union County, Appling County was blanked by fourthranked and third-seed Columbus, and Rockmart was knocked out by thirdranked and second-seed Savannah Arts Academy. The Region 3 champion Lady Panthers opened with a blanking of 31stseed Drew Charter.
Following the first round match, PCHS recognized seniors Hannah Fandrich and Kelsey Fuentes.
Also recognized were Lady Bear all-Region 3AA selections. Earning First Team honors were juniors Ava Doss and Claire Murray along with Fandrich and Fuentes. Named to the Second Team were juniors Alayna Bell, Ansleigh Cyr, Lucy Morgan and Reegan Smith. Receiving Honorable Mention were sophomores Ansley Hutcheson and Isabella Marx.
Ten members of the Lady Bears’ volleyball team were recognized Wednesday after being named all-Region 3-AA performers. Photo By HEATHER DIERINGER
