Kerry Gilstrap/Courier

The Pickens High School volleyball team came up short in their quest to play for the Class 4A state championship with a 3 games to 1 (15-25, 25-22, 12-25 and 15-25) loss to Aiken in the upper state championship on Tuesday night at Pickens. The Lady Blue Flame had knocked off South Pointe, North Augusta and South Aiken on their road to the championship match. Above, Pickens sophomore Sydney Bolding goes up to serve against South Aiken last Thursday.