Both the Nation Ford Falcons and Catawba Ridge volleyball teams open up the playoffs today.
The Falcons will play Byrnes at home at 6 p.m. in the 5A classification to open the playoffs. Nation Ford enters the postseason at 22-2. Their two losses came against JL Mann and TL Hanna. The Falcons were able to get the loss against TL Hanna back by beating them later in the season.
The match-up against TL Hanna could be an important one as if the Falcons can get past Byrnes, they would take on the winner of the TL Hanna and Blythewood. If TL Hanna wins, they will host Nation Ford, but if Blythewood upsets TL Hanna, Nation Ford will host Blythewood in the second round Oct. 29.
While the path to a third consecutive state title for the Nation Ford volleyball team isn’t easy, it will be a familiar one as the Falcons have played the majority of the teams in the Upper State bracket having beaten all of them except JL Mann.
Nation Ford’s path may cross against Dorman, whom they have already beat, or JL Mann, if they can make it to the Upper State championship Nov. 3.
Catawba Ridge will enter the 4A state playoffs with a 10-8-3 record and will open on the road at Eastside. If the Copperheads can get past Eastside, they will face the winner of Pickens and A.C. Flora in the second round.
Unlike Nation Ford, there is a lot of unknowns in the Copperheads’ road in the playoffs. Catawba Ridge hasn’t played Eastside, Pickens or AC Flora this year. The only Upper State playoff opponent they have seen is Indian Land, who they have dropped two matches to this season. They wouldn’t see them until the Upper State championship if both make it that far.
Catawba Ridge, being a No. 2 seed, doesn’t have the advantage of having a home match, unless they run into another No. 2 seed in the Upper State finals.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
