All-Area 5-5A Kyla Manning leads Chamblee into the state playoffs. (Photo by Mark Brock)

All-Area 5-5A Kyla Manning was key to Chamblee’s Area title and state playoff appearance. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Three DeKalb County volleyball squads will host first round state tournament action this week as 10 teams from the county earned state berths for the 2016 season.

Five of the teams come from Area 5-5A led by Area champs Chamblee Bulldogs and runners-up Arabia Mountain Rams who are both hosting first round games this weekend.

Chamblee boasts the best overall record in the county this year at 35-8 along with the Area 5-5A regular season and tournament titles. Coach Lorri Reynolds squad improved on its 2015 record of 29-19 as they head into the playoffs.

A visit from Riverdale (14-12) is on the agenda for Wednesday at 5:30 pm in the Chamblee High gym in the first round of the Class 5A State Tournament. Chamblee leads the county with a program record of 477-314 while Reynolds is fourth on the DeKalb Career Coaching Wins list at 188-152.

The Bulldogs rolled through the Area 5-5A Tournament with three consecutive two-sets to none victories to earn the No. 1 seed with senior Kyla Manning, junior Rachel Loftus, sophomore Camille Van Leer and freshman Becca Evans earning All-Area honors for their play.

All-Area selection Jaya Martin is one of leaders for Arabia Mountain as they head into the state playoffs. (Photo by Mark Brock)

All-Area selection Jaya Martin is one of the leaders for Arabia Mountain as they head into the state playoffs. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Arabia Mountain was the runner-up to Chamblee in the Area 5-5A tournament and is 22-6 heading into the state playoff host role against Starr’s Mill (19-22), the No. 3 team from Area 3-5A. The Rams are making their fourth state tournament appearance since 2009, their first, and will be in their first host role.

Bruce Pfleger’s Rams were 17-12 a year ago and he owns two of the four state playoff appearances for Arabia Mountain with a 72-34 record. The Rams are led by All-Area selections Iffy Foreman and Jaya Martin as they head into the playoffs.

Southwest DeKalb is making its third consecutive state tournament appearance under Coach Kristina Parrish (92-66 in five seasons). The Panthers (15-12) are the No. 3 seed out of 5-5A and head to Peachtree City to face Area 3-5A No. 2 seed McIntosh (21-7) on Wednesday (time to be announced).

All-Area 5-5A selections Haley Harneth and Alisha Williams are two of the leaders for the Panthers.

Lithonia (11-10) is making its first state playoff in at least 12 years and first under Head Coach Pierce Jackson. The Bulldogs are the No. 4 seed and travel to take on Area 3-5A champ Whitewater (33-4) on Wednesday (time to be announced). All-Area 5-5A player Trinity Ross is a mainstay for the Bulldogs.

Coach Pamela Flowers Miller Grove Wolverines (11-16) made it as the No. 5 seed out of 5-5A and travels to Area 8 champ Buford (36-4) for a 6:00 pm match on Wednesday.

Flowers (155-88 in 9 seasons) picked up her 150th career victory on September 13th against Clarkston and has the Wolverines in the state playoffs for the second time in three seasons. Miller Grove’s first playoff appearance came in 2014.

CLASS 6A

All-Area 7-6A senior Madison McKnight hopes to lead the Wildcats to a fourth consecutive Final Four appearance. (Photo by Mark Brock)

All-Area 7-6A senior Madison McKnight hopes to propel the Wildcats to a fourth consecutive Final Four appearance. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Dunwoody is the No. 3 seed out of tough Area 7-6A under the direction of first year head coach Heidi Forth. The Wildcats (30-16) are making their fifth consecutive playoff appearance and are coming off three consecutive Final Four finishes.

The Wildcats, playoff participants 10 of the past 12 seasons, travel to Area 4-6A No. 2 seed Lovejoy on Thursday in a game tentatively set for 6:00 pm. Bridget Boyle, Amanda Gild and Madison McKnight all earned All-Area 7-6A honors and are the leaders for the Wildcats.

CLASS 7A

All-Area 7-7A first teamer Sairah Hyman leads Lakeside to its 8th consecutive state playoff berth. (Photo by Mark Brock)

All-Area 7-7A first teamer Sairah Hyman is a big part of a Lakeside team headed to its 8th consecutive state playoff berth. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Lakeside is making its eighth consecutive state tournament appearance as the Vikings (21-17) travel to Walton (34-6) to take on one of the top teams in the state in the Area 4-7A champ. The match is set for 6:00 pm on Wednesday.

Coach Angela Thompson (222-136 in 10 seasons) and her squad played in a tough Area 7-7A schedule and were one set win away from the third seed.

CLASS 3A
Three teams from DeKalb are coming out of Area 5-3A, but due to Hurricane Matthew disrupted area play in the Savannah (Area 3-3A) area all state playoff matches are being delayed as the 3-3A teams try to finish their area play.

Redan is the third host team from DeKalb for the state playoffs as the Raiders finished 28-2, including a 24-game win streak to open the season, on the way to a No. 2 seed in Area 5-3A. It is Redan’s fifth consecutive appearance in the state playoffs and fifth consecutive season with 20 or more wins.

Coach Charlyce Henderson’s squad hosts the Area 3-3A No. 3 seed Savannah (11-12) in the first round of the Class 3A State Playoffs on Monday, Oct. 17 at 5:30 pm. Henderson (165-77 in 8 seasons) picked up her 150th career victory on September 6th against Towers and is now in fourth place in career wins for DeKalb County.

All-Area players Taliah Gardner, Gerika Moon, Johnquanek Spencer and Kiola Symister form a solid core on the floor for the Raiders.

Stone Mountain's Janae Nimmons and the Pirates are headed to the state playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Stone Mountain’s Janae Nimmons and the Pirates are headed to the state playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Stone Mountain is making its first playoff appearance in 13 seasons as the Pirates (17-13) went above .500 for the season for the first time since a 16-8 campaign in 2005. All-Area designee Shamekia Harris anchors the Pirates on the floor.

Mary Croomer’s team only won five games two years ago and has progressed from that point to 10 wins in 2015 to the 17-victory plateau this season. The Pirates go on the road to face the Area 3-3A No. 2 seed Southeast Bulloch (17-16) on Thursday at 5:00 pm.

Towers is in the playoffs for the second time in four seasons after reaching the playoffs for the first time in 2013 under coach Monique Ewing. The Titans are the No. 4 seed from 5-3A and travel to face the Area 3 No. 1 seed Islands (20-9) on Monday, Oct. 17 at 5:00 pm. All-Area award winners Desire Arias and Tashara Earl are key components in the Titans’ lineup.

DCSD VOLLEYBALL STATE PLAYOFFS
Wednesday, Oct. 12
Class 7A
Lakeside (21-17) at Walton (34-6), 6:00 pm

Class 5A
Riverdale (14-12) at Chamblee (35-8), 5:30 pm
Starr’s Mill (19-22) at Arabia Mountain (22-6), 5:30 pm
SW DeKalb (15-12) at McIntosh (21-7), 6:00 pm
Miller Grove (13-16) at Buford (36-4), 6:00 pm
Lithonia (12-11) at Whitewater (33-4), 6:30 pm

Thursday, Oct. 13
CLASS 6A
Dunwoody (30-16) at Lovejoy, 6:00 pm

CLASS 3A
Stone Mountain (17-12) at Southeast Bulloch (17-16), 5:00 pm

Monday, Oct. 17
CLASS 3A
Savannah (11-12) at Redan (28-2), 5:30 pm
Towers (7-15) at Islands (20-9), 5:00 pm