Whitewater sweeps elite foes

Class AAA No. 1 Woodward Academy (4-0) swept through the Elite Eight Payday Saturday at Wesleyan with wins over Class AAAAAA No. 5 North Gwinnett (25-23, 27-29, 15-10), Brookwood (25-10, 25-10), Class A No. 3 Holy Innocents’ (25-9, 25-22) and Class AAAAAA No. 7 Roswell (25-18, 15-25, 15-11). Junior outside hitter Rachel Ware led the team with 24 kills and 19 net points over the weekend. Junior setter Sydney Morton contributed a team-best 67 assists while Elizabeth Muse totaled 19 digs, also tops for the War Eagles. Coach Tad Sahara’s team will host Columbus and Starr’s Mill this weekend. … Class AAAAA No. 1 Whitewater swept through the State Finalist Playdate at Marist over the weekend finishing 3-0 with wins over powerhouse programs Class AAAAAA No. 1 Walton (25-22, 22-25, 16-14), Class AAAAAA No. 6 Chattahoochee (25-21, 25-21) and Class AAAAA No. 2 Pope (25-19, 25-17). Whitewater has now beaten former No. 1 Pope twice this season. … Sandy Creek volleyball coach Paul Collins is closing in on 500 career wins after his Class AAAA No. 2 Patriots (6-5) defeated Class A No. 1 Eagle’s Landing Christian (25-23, 25-19) and Class AAA No. 2 St. Pius (25-20, 22-25, 15-12) in the tournament at Marist. In the same event, the Patriots lost to Class AAAAA No. 2 Pope (25-8, 25-27, 11-15) and Class AAAAAA No. 2 Harrison (22-25, 20-25). Collins now has 494 total wins. The Patriots have been guided by senior Allie Davenport so far, who leads the team with 78 kills, 42 digs and 18 service aces. Junior Sydney Wilson has 17.5 blocks, another team-best, while also adding 43 kills. Freshman setter Alexis Broadwater has 110 assists, most on the squad. This week, Sandy Creek plays Class AAA No. 1 Woodward Academy and Chattahoochee today, then will take part in the Forsyth Challenge on Friday and Saturday. … At Marist, Class AAA No. 3 St. Pius preceded its loss to Sandy Creek with wins Saturday morning against Chattahoochee (25-22, 25-16) and Eagle’s Landing Christian (25-14, 25-23). The Golden Lions then fell to Harrison (24-26, 20-25). … Allatoona senior Dessaa Legros committed to South Carolina over the weekend.