Lady Flame

PICKENS — The weekend started with a bang as the AAA Upper State Champions Pickens upset the host school in three games, 25-17, 20-25, 16-14. Then the Lady Flame took down Charlotte Country Day in two, 25-19, 26-24. Coach Jennifer Gravely said about Friday’s play, “Our serve receive and defense was amazing. That’s what it’s about for us.”

But Saturday proved much more challenging for Pickens as they dropped the last match of the first round of pool play to Wando. Still, the wins from the night before propelled the team to a second place finish and put them in the top eight entering the second round of pool play. Once again the team played lackluster ball and dropped matches to last year’s Lower State Champion Aiken, A State Champions St. Joseph’s before losing to defending AAAA Champions Hillcrest.

In the silver brackets of tournament play, Pickens lost to AA State Champions Bishop England. “We struggled for the majority of the day, making unforced errors and mental mistakes. But when you think about the caliber of teams we faced, the experience will be priceless come playoff time,” stated Gravely. “We learned a lot, and I can’t wait to apply the lessons to practice.”

Pickens varsity and JV teams won both region games this week against Berea and Greenville to move to 4-0 in Region 2AAA. The Lady Flame face Greer and Blue Ridge at home this week. JV plays at 5:30. Please note, the varsity match begins thirty minutes after the conclusion of JV, not at 7 p.m. as originally stated.

Saturday, September 28, the JV team hosts a tournament starting at 8:30 a.m. Twelve teams will compete including last year’s winner Hillcrest JV. Come enjoy a great day of volleyball! The team will collect donations to support breast cancer research for the next two weeks.