ROCK HILL – All three local varsity volleyball teams had good showings at the North-South Invitational as part of a 16-team division over the weekend at the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center.
Marvin Ridge won the Varsity Open division with Fort Mill finishing tied for fifth in the gold bracket and Nation Ford winning the silver bracket and finishing ninth overall going 5-1. Catawba Ridge finished tied for 13th in the division.
Fort Mill went 2-3 overall in the tournament and 2-1 in pool play to finish second in their pool making the gold bracket. On pool play Friday, the Jackets beat Ardrey Kell in three sets winning 13-25, 25-20, and 15-9. They then lost to the Cannon School in straight sets 25-17 and 25-23. Fort Mill bounced back Saturday morning beating North Stanley 25-23, 19-25, and 15-10.
Once in the gold bracket, the Jackets lost to the Reagan Raiders in three sets, 20-25, 28-26, 11-15 and then lost to Legion Collegiate Academy in straight sets 22-25 and 9-25.
For Nation Ford, the Falcons went 2-1 in pool play as they tied for the lead in their pool with Wando and North Raleigh Christian. In pool play, Nation Ford beat North Raleigh in three sets 19-25, 25-18, 15-5 and Myers Park in three sets, 25-12, 14-25, 15-11. The Falcons fell in straight sets to Wando 21-25 and 14-25.
Once they reached the silver bracket, Nation Ford went 3-0 Saturday to win the bracket. They beat Catawba Ridge in straight sets 25-17 and 25-16 to open bracket play. They then beat North Stanley also in straight sets 25-17 and 25-17, before knocking off Ardrey Kell 25-22 and 25-20.
The Catawba Ridge Copperheads struggled in the tournament, but still managed to finish 13th. The Copperheads went 0-3 in pool play and the 1-1 on bracket play. Catawba Ridge had a strong bracket, including the division winner Marvin Ridge. They fell to Marvin Ridge in straight sets 10-25 and 17-25 and Legion Collegiate 21-25 and 23-25. Catawba Ridge then lost to Powdersville 25-19, 23-25, and 15-4.
After losing to Nation Ford, Catawba Ridge did beat Crest in straight sets in their other silver bracket match 25-10 and 25-18.
Up next, Fort Mill will participate in a tri-match Aug. 29 on the road at Spring Valley against the Vikings and Dutch Fork. Nation Ford will travel to Marvin Ridge Aug. 27. Catawba Ridge will go to Dreher Aug. 27 in Columbia to start the regular season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
