The Chamblee Bulldogs swept Calhoun 3-0 in the first round of the Class 5A state volleyball playoffs at Chamblee to advance to the Sweet 16 for the fifth time in the past six seasons.

Chamblee (24-15) cruised to a 25-13 win in the opening set to take the early 1-0 lead on the Yellow Jackets (27-23).

The second set Chamblee was up 24-17 and Calhoun battled back to within 24-23 with some solid play at the net and big digs on the back line. Chamblee closed out the game as a ball went off a Calhoun player and out of bounds to make the final in set two 25-23.

The final set featured 14 lead changes and 11 ties as the two teams battled to an 18-18 tie with neither team leading by more than two points along the way.

A double touch on Calhoun gave Chamblee the lead for good at 19-18. Calhoun could not get the ball back over on a serve by Anna Birukuva as the third attempt fell short of the net to make it a 20-18 Chamblee lead.

Calhoun called a timeout. Out of the timeout Chamblee hit a ball towards the back line which was called in, but overturned by the referee to make it tight again at 20-19.

Calhoun got into the net on the next point and a Bulldog shot to the back of the Calhoun court went off the hands of a diving Yellow Jacket and out of bounds to make it 22-20 Chamblee.

After Calhoun again closed within one at 22-21, Layla Burrell hit a winner off an assist from Natalie Tsai to make it 23-21 to put Chamblee within two points of closing out the match.

A block attempt by Chamblee on the next point went out of bounds and it was again a one-point game at 23-22. Chamblee got to match point at 24-22 as Birukuva’s block fell into an open spot on the Calhoun side of the net.

Dana Higgins served to Calhoun on match point and a Calhoun kill attempt went wide sending the Chamblee team and bench into a celebration on the court with the final of 25-22.

Chamblee moves on to face Woodward Academy (31-9), a 3-0 winner against Ware County, at Woodward on Saturday (Oct. 23). A time is yet to be determined.

In other state playoff action for DeKalb, Dunwoody (22-17) fell 0-3 to Cherokee (32-7) and Redan (11-12) dropped an 0-3 decision to Cherokee Bluff (27-16) to end both teams’ seasons.

Lakeside (33-4-1) and Arabia Mountain (20-8-1) both host first round matches at 5:00 pm today. Lakeside takes on Glynn Academy (16-8) in Class 6A and Arabia Mountain takes on Chestatee (27-10) in Class 4A.

Class 4A road contests for DeKalb has Druid Hills travelling to Flowery Branch for a 7:00 pm contest and Stephenson headed to Jefferson for a 5:30 pm match.

DCSD VOLLEYBALL STATE PLAYOFFS RESULTS
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, October 19
CLASS 7A
Cherokee (32-7) 3, Dunwoody (22-17) 0

CLASS 5A
Chamblee (24-15) 3, Calhoun (27-23) 0

CLASS 3A
Cherokee Bluff (27-16) 3, Redan (11-12) 0

DCSD VOLLEYBALL STATE PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
FIRST ROUND
Wednesday, October 20
CLASS 6A
Glynn Academy (16-8) at Lakeside (33-4-1), 5:00 pm

CLASS 4A
Chestatee (27-10) at Arabia Mountain (20-8-1), 5:00 pm
Druid Hills at Flowery Branch (22-14), 7:00 pm
Stephenson at Jefferson (20-11), 5:30 pm