ROCK HILL – The 2026 girls volleyball season was served up this weekend.
All three local high school teams played in the North-South Invitational at the Rock Hill Events Center.
The two-day tournament featured 72 teams from all over the southeast as it is one of the biggest tournaments of the high school season.
Nation Ford won the Silver Bracket and finished 4-1 in the tournament in seventh place out of 24 teams in the Varsity Open Division. Their only loss was against Wando falling in straight sets 25-18, 25-12 in pool play.
The Falcons opened things up on Friday, Aug. 14 beating Gray Collegiate Academy 25-23, 25-21 and then beat Ardrey Kell 25-13, 25-16 in pool play before falling to Wando.
On Saturday, Aug. 15, Nation Ford beat Weddington and Marvin Ridge. Against Weddington, the Falcons won 25-16, 25-23 and then beat Marvin Ridge in the Silver Bracket final 25-20, 27-25.
Fort Mill finished 11th out of 32 teams in the Power Division and went 3-2 during the tournament. Fort Mill finished third in the Silver Bracket.
The Jackets fell in its pool opening to Davidson Day falling in three sets, 25-20, 18-25, 5-15. They then beat Mooresville 23-25, 25-20, 15-10 and RJ Reynolds 25-10, 25-17.
On Aug. 15, Fort Mill split matches beating Ambassador Christian Academy 25-23, 25-21 and falling to East Chapel Hill 7-24, 23-25.
Catawba Ridge finished 17th in the Varsity Open Division out of 24 teams and went 2-3 on the weekend. The Copperheads were 1-2 in pool play and split games on Aug. 15.
In pool play, Catawba Ridge fell to Weddington 20-25, 25-20, 8-15 to open. They then beat Southwest Randolph 25-23, 25-11 and lost to Mountain View Prep 23-25, 25-22, 6-15. On Aug. 15, the Copperheads lost to Gray Collegiate 7-25, 25-21, 8-15, but ended its day beating River Bluff 25-11, 25-22.
Catawba Ridge and Fort Mill will start the regular season this week playing each other on Aug. 20 at Fort Mill, while Nation Ford opens the regular season on Aug. 25 also at Fort Mill.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
