Sonoraville volleyball team coach Trace Vaughn talks to his team before a match against Ringgold on Tuesday in Ringgold, Ga.
Carrie Cheeks - basketball - SonoravilleFor the last three volleyball seasons, Sonoraville's Lady Phoenix can call themselves three-time GHSA Area 6-AAA champions and three-time state quarterfinalists.
But the 2014 team has gone one step further. The Lady Phoenix won their quarterfinal match Saturday, taking down Savannah Arts Academy 3-0 at Sonoraville by set scores of 25-16, 25-22, 25-17.
For the first time in the program's nine-year history, Sonoraville (35-16) will play in a state semifinal. The Lady Phoenix play Wednesday at Westminster at 6 p.m.
Among the challenges they faced entering the season was replacing the production of two highly decorated players: setter Kristi Vaughn, now playing at Armstrong Atlantic State, and 6-foot-3 hitter Carrie Cheeks, who signed a basketball scholarship with Lee University.
This year's young team is led at the net by Haley Ponder, the only senior in the regular rotation.
"We just knew we had some big shoes to fill and some of us had to step up," Ponder said. "I had to step up as a leader."
Sonoraville coach Trace Vaughn sighted the weekend at the end of August as the point when his team began showing serious signs of promise.
"When we played at the tournament in Rockwood," Vaughn said of the Tournament at the Rock, "for some reason things clicked for us there."
Vaughn noted that there were some "minor personality issues" that had to be worked through. He also made a couple of rotation adjustments, and hesaid juniors Maris Irick and Haley Smith began raising their level of play.
Irick and Smith are primarily defensive specialists and two of the six Lady Phoenix who had at least four digs in the quarterfinal win. The back-row play is more of a team strength than in years past.
"Our passing has been probably better than it's ever been," Vaughn said. "We're much more defensive-oriented."
All-around player Emalie Hicks and another junior, setter Savannah Wilbanks, have played instrumental roles for Sonoraville this season, along with fellow captain and top hitter Ponder. Others with a lot of court time have been juniors Caroline Magill and Delaney Bell and sophomore Gracen Hornbrook.
Getting past Westminster literally will be a tall order for the Lady Phoenix. The Lady Wildcats are led by 6-2 senior and Area 2 player of the year Mason Rooney, the team leader in assists and kills who will play at Davidson College.
"We just have to give it our all, and fly around," Ponder said. "Coach Vaughn is always telling us to move our feet. We can't get down on ourselves. I don't have a lot of time left in this jersey, so I'm going to give it my all while I'm in it."
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him at twitter.com/KelleySmiddie.