Rock Hill High School finished second in the South Carolina High School League Class 5A boys volleyball playoffs after losing 3 to 1 to Carolina Forest in the state final Saturday, Oct. 31.
Rock Hill entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Upper State and won the Upper State title without dropping a set after its opening match. Carolina Forest, from Horry County, came out of the Lower State as the No. 4 seed.
The Bearcats’ run to the final came on the same day Indian Land High School won the Class 4A boys title, giving York and Lancaster counties a team in two of the state’s boys volleyball championship matches.
An Opening Round Rivalry
Rock Hill’s playoff run began Oct. 20 against a York County opponent, No. 8 Fort Mill. Fort Mill took the first set 25 to 21, and Rock Hill answered by winning the next three, 25 to 23, 25 to 11 and 25 to 21.
Sweeps Through the Upper State
Two days later, Rock Hill swept No. 4 Dorman 3 to 0, winning 25 to 22, 25 to 16 and 25 to 18.
In the Upper State final Oct. 27, Rock Hill swept No. 7 Boiling Springs 3 to 0. Boiling Springs had reached that match by winning back to back five set matches over Woodmont and James F. Byrnes.
Carolina Forest’s Path
Carolina Forest beat Cane Bay 3 to 0 in the opening round, then needed five sets to get past top seed Socastee, taking the fifth 15 to 13. The Panthers beat Summerville 3 to 1 in the Lower State final before winning three of four sets against Rock Hill in the championship match.
After the final, Rock Hill players and coaches posed at center court with the SCHSL state runner up trophy.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
