The GISA Class AA No. 2 state-ranked Griffin Christian Lady Crusaders volleyball team steamrolled through The Gatewood School Monday evening at home in 3 quick games in the first round of the state volleyball playoffs, but the stakes will be higher this afternoon at Augusta Prep Day School.

The Lady Crusaders (26-2) will have to play at their absolute best today; in order to become GISA State Volleyball champions — the first GISA state champions in school history — they will have to win 3 matches in 2 days on the road. The party starts for GC today at 1 p.m. against Oak Mountain in the state quarterfinals. If the Lady Crusaders win that match, they will face the Harvester Christian/Grace Christian winner in the semifinals today at 5:30 p.m.

The winner of the semifinals match will play in the GISA State Volleyball Finals at either 1 p.m. or 6 p.m. on Saturday.

GC has beaten all three teams this year, twice sweeping Oak Mountain (3-0, 3-0) and Grace Christian (2-0, 2-0) and beating Harvester Christian 3-2.

“We have to put those earlier matches behind us and focus on playing one game at a time. If we don’t do that, we could go home,” said GC coach Melanie Foster. “We have to focus on Oak Mountain and what they like to do. Their power hitters like to hit cut shots to the other side of the 10-foot line so we have to be ready. The girls are excited and ready to play; they want to win it all.”

That certainly is the sentiment from GC senior Leyah Brown.

“Our goal is to win three matches in Augusta,” said Brown. “If we do that, we’re state champs.”

Sophomore Brittany Brogdon said she and her teammates will be ready for Oak Mountain and freshman Ruby Mathews said the reason why she and her teammates will be focused on Oak Mountain is because of the team’s chemistry.

“The key to our success so far is that we work well together,” Mathews said. “We all get along with each other.”

**Directions to Augusta Prep Day School, 285 Flowing Wells Rd, Martinez, GA 30907 (from downtown Griffin per Google Maps)

Take Ga. 16 E (Taylor Street) for 36 miles

Take Ga. 83 N for 22.2 miles

Turn right onto Interstate 20 E for 81.4 miles

Take exit 195 (Wheeler Rd)

Turn left onto Wheeler Rd and continue onto Flowing Wells Rd

Augusta Prep will be on the left

GRIFFIN CHRISTIAN VOLLEYBALL

Date| Opponent |Time

8/20 |Heritage |W 3-1

8/21 |@ Stratford |W 3-1

8/24 |Sherwood* |W 3-0

8/25 |Trinity JV% |W 3-0

8/25 |Skipstone% |W 3-0

8/27 |@ Heritage |W 3-1

8/28 |Holy Spirit |W 3-1

8/30 |Oak Mtn. |W 3-0

9/4 |Heirway |W 3-0

9/6 |Stratford |W 3-0

9/10 |Skipstone |W 3-0

9/11 |@ Arlington |W 3-0

9/13 |@ Mt. de Sales |W 3-1

9/17 |Harvester |W 3-2

9/18 |@ Skipstone |W 3-0

9/20 |@ Calvary |L 3-0

9/24 |Arlington |W 3-0

9/25 |@ Holy Spirit |W 3-2

9/27 |Mt. de Sales |W 3-0

9/28 |@ Sherwood* |W 2-1

9/28 |@ Grace* |W 2-0

10/2 |Calvary |L 3-0

10/5 |@ Grace |W 2-0

10/5 |@ Lafayette* |W 2-1

10/9 |Lafayette* |W 2-0

10/16 |@ Oak Mtn. |W 3-0

10/18 |@ Heirway |W 3-0

***STATE TOURNAMENT***

10/22 |Gatewood |W 3-0

10/26 |vs. Oak Mtn |1:00

10/26 |vs. Grace/Harvester |5:30

10/27 |State Finals |TBA