Socastee volleyball upping the ante with playoff success out of Region VI-AAAA

When Socastee was bumped to the state’s highest classification last year, the Carolina Forest volleyball team knew its reign in Region VI-AAAA could be in jeopardy.

Fast forward.

Now, the Braves are hoping to start a reign of their own.

Socastee beat the Panthers twice this season and went undefeated in region play en route to being crowned Region VI-AAAA champions, subsequently ending Carolina Forest’s streak of six consecutive region titles.

“It’s kind of weird,” said Braves coach Kristi Garrett, whose team defeated Spring Valley 3-0 in the first round of the Class AAAA playoffs Thursday. “Carolina Forest has had it for six years straight and there was nobody there [to compete with]. We came in the first year and were co-champs with them and this year we won it outright.”

Garrett said it’s been more of a friendly competition between Socastee and the Panthers. Last year, the teams split a pair of contests and were named co-champions.

“The girls on Socastee play with the girls on Carolina Forest in club volleyball,” she said. “So they know them and they’re friends so it’s fun competition between the two of them. They wanted the win just as bad as we did. Fortunately for us, we got it done.”

Each of the six years the Panthers were named region champions, they fell in the first round of the playoffs. In Socastee’s first year as a member of Class AAAA, it won two playoffs games and reached the Lower State semifinals.

“Each year [Carolina Forest] won, they went to the first round and they lost. So taking over both years and winning in the first round of the playoffs shows that it’s possible,” Braves senior Katelynn Hine said. “I think someone needed to prove that to Carolina Forest.”

Perhaps it has indeed given the Panthers some renewed confidence. They ended their playoff drought with a 3-0 win over Summerville on Thursday.

“Someone needed to give [Carolina Forest] some competition in the region,” Socastee senior Eden Dukes said.

Fellow senior Dale Rogers – the Toast of the Coast Player of the Year last season – said the wins over the Panthers gave the Braves the confidence they needed to finish the region undefeated.

“It really gave us that extra boost we needed,” Rogers said. “We were really determined to beat Carolina Forest. Last year we tied with them and this year our goal was to take over as the top team in the region. Here we are.”

While the Panthers have been a tough opponent, Myrtle Beach has also given the Braves some issues as it’s always a battle when Socastee and the Class AAA Seahawks meet.

On Sept. 10, the Braves took down Myrtle Beach 3-1, the Seahawks’ only loss this season. Myrtle Beach, however, took two contests from the Braves and those were the only losses Socastee suffered this season.

“It’s very competitive between us,” Socastee senior Mary D. Guest said. “It feels good to be the only team to beat Myrtle Beach this year.”

Guest, Dukes, Hine and Rogers have led the way for the Braves in their senior seasons, and they want to go out with a bang.

“We’ve been working hard since July to find the results we’ve had,” said Dukes, who averages 6.5 kills and four blocks per match. “Now that we’re in the playoffs, we’re in a good place. We’re definitely not going to overlook anyone. [The state championship] is the goal and that’s what we’ve been preparing for.”

Hine contributes roughly 30 assists per match, Guest averages 13 digs and nine kills a contest and Rogers has averaged 12 kills and nine digs per contest and has 43 aces this season.

Rogers said she eventually wants to play at the next level. But first, she wants a ring.

“We all came into this season really positive,” Rogers said. “All of us seniors want to go out strong.”

Said Garrett: “I’ve really been pushing the seniors. Every match now could potentially be their last, so they know the stakes.”

If both the Panthers and the Braves keep it up, they could potentially meet in the Lower State finals.

Socastee hosts No. 3 White Knoll on Tuesday and Carolina Forest heads to No. 1 Wando for second-round matches.

“We’d be ready,” Guest said. “We’d love to play Carolina Forest one more time, especially if its for a trip to the state championship.”

This story was originally published November 2, 2015 at 5:03 PM with the headline "Socastee volleyball upping the ante with playoff success out of Region VI-AAAA."