Energy infusion during second set propels the Chamblee Lady Bulldogs from a 1-0 deficit to a 3-1 win over the Northgate Lady Vikings in the opening round of the Class 5A Volleyball State Playoffs at Chamblee on Tuesday night.

Northgate (14-28-3) came out early making the plays to build an 18-12 lead in the opening set. Chamblee’s Chloe Bell had a block to pull the Bulldogs within 18-13.

Northgate’s Lauren Coursey had a put away on an assist from Melaynah Porter to start a 7-0 run that would put the Vikings up 1-0 in the match via a 25-13 win.

Northgate was cruising up 13-11 in the second set when Chamblee turned up the energy level on their side of the net behind the play of Layla Burrell and Naa Adua Annan to score six consecutive points to take an 18-13 lead. Burrell had a kill and two blocks while Natalie Tsai had an assist and a touch shot in the run.

Annan had a pair of put aways along with blocks by Burrell and Chloe Bell as the lead built to 24-18. Northgate went to serve, and the serve went wide giving Chamblee the 25-18 win to tie the match at 1-1.

Northgate jumped out 2-0 to open the third set but the Bulldogs came storming back led by Annan again with three kills as the lead went to 10-5. On the next point Annan chased down a ball well over the back line and got it back into play for Tsai who got the ball over the net before Chamblee eventually won the point on the way to taking an 18-10 lead.

Bell and McKenna Smith teamed up on a block to help close out a 25-16 win to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-five match.

Chamblee fell behind 3-1 early in the fourth set and rallied to tie it at 3-3 as Tsai made a nice set for Smith’s put away. Maggie Meeks shot off a defender gave Chamblee the lead for good at 5-4.

Tsai assisted Meeks later for another kill that extended the lead to 18-9. Chamblee was up 21-12 when Northgate closed the gap to 23-18. Northgate closed to within 24-20 before a shot went wide giving the Bulldogs a 25-20 win to clinch the match 3-1.

Chamblee advances to play the winner of Statesboro (21-11) and Eagles Landing (28-15) on Saturday, October 22.

In other Class 5A action on the road, Arabia Mountain (12-15-1) fell 0-3 to Harris County (30-16) and Tucker (13-18-1) dropped an 0-3 (7-25,5-25,6-25) decision to McIntosh (31-12).

Cedar Grove fell 0-3 on the road at Bremen (28-5-2) in Class 3A state playoff action.

DCSD VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Tuesday, October 18
CLASS 5A
Chamblee (22-16) 3, Northgate (14-28-3) 1
Harris Co. (30-16) 3, Arabia Mountain (12-15-1) 0
McIntosh (31-12) 3, Tucker (13-18-1) 0

CLASS 3A
Bremen (28-5-2) 3, Cedar Grove (0-17) 0

Wednesday, October 19
CLASS 6A
Rockdale Co. (15-18) at Dunwoody (26-10), 6:00 pm
CLASS 4A
Lovett (23-8) at SW DeKalb (25-9-1), 5:30 pm
Stephenson (18-7) at Pace Academy (37-1), 5:30 pm
CLASS 2A
Towers (12-17) at North Cobb Christian (29-12), 6:00 pm