The Cartersville High School Lady Canes volleyball team continues its strong postseason run, advancing to its third straight GHSA State Volleyball Semifinals.
On Wednesday, October 21st, the Lady Canes swept Druid Hills 25-21, 25-8, and 25-16 in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs. Senior defensive specialist Kenzie Wilkie recorded 15 digs and reached 1,800 digs. Amara Ejieke and Holly Dufrene led the attack with 10 and nine kills. Adelynn England contributed 12 serve points, 10 digs, seven blocks, and three aces.
That win set up a quarterfinal matchup against Jefferson last Saturday. Cartersville defeated the Dragons in three sets, 25-15, 25-20, and 25-15, improving to 37-5. The Lady Canes jumped out to an early lead in the first set. Jefferson responded with an 11-1 run in the second to take a 13-7 lead, but Cartersville chipped away. Blakely Morris’s kill and subsequent serve points narrowed the gap, and Amara Ejieke’s aces helped the Lady Canes pull away to win the set. They then closed out the match with a decisive third set.
Blakely Morris led Cartersville with 11 kills. Amara Ejieke added 10. Kenzie Wilkie paced the defense with 10 digs and also became the school’s career leader in aces with two in the match. Brooke Belarmino finished with 16 assists.
Head coach Kyle Lundberg has guided the program to the State Semifinals each year in his third season. He credited the team’s experience for the win, noting the players know how to regroup under pressure. The Lady Canes will face Blessed Trinity today at 4 p.m. at the LakePoint Sports Champions Center in Emerson. Cartersville defeated the Titans earlier this season.
The senior class, including Wilkie, Dufrene, Ejieke, and England, continues to leave its mark as the program advances deeper into the state tournament.
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