Walton’s volleyball season ended Wednesday, Oct. 28, when North Forsyth erased a two-set deficit to beat the defending state champions 3-2 in the Class 7A semifinals at LakePoint Sports Champions Center in Emerson.
The Raiders finished 27-13 after losing 25-13, 25-17, 21-25, 15-25, 4-15, according to the Marietta Daily Journal.
The result reversed last year’s semifinal, when Walton rallied against North Forsyth before winning the Class 6A championship.
“This year, they did to us what we did to them last year,” Walton coach Ashley Jones told the MDJ.
Walton controlled the opening two sets. Scarlett Holden’s serving helped stretch a 16-12 advantage to 23-12 in the first. The Raiders then moved ahead 9-8 in the second and never trailed again, the newspaper reported.
North Forsyth took over from there, winning the third and fourth sets before opening an 11-0 lead in the deciding fifth set.
Ella Grace Craft finished with 23 service points and 12 aces, according to the MDJ. Jayda Reece led North Forsyth with 21 kills, Kennedy Davis added 12 and setter Lily Seabolt recorded 43 assists. Reece, Craft and Lyla Craft each contributed 18 digs.
Walton will graduate eight seniors. Jones told the MDJ she expects a talented incoming freshman class to help the Raiders return to the playoffs next season.
North Forsyth advances to face Brookwood for the Class 7A championship Saturday, Oct. 31. The match begins at 6:30 p.m. at LakePoint, according to the GHSA’s official schedule.
