Powerful Lexington spikes Beaufort High's playoff run

Second-ranked Lexington breezed by upstart Beaufort High on Tuesday in the third round of the Class 4-A state volleyball playoffs to advance to the Lower State championship match for the second year in a row.

The Wildcats (19-1) dispatched the Eagles 3-0, ending Beaufort High's best-ever postseason showing. Lexington had little trouble in winning the first and third games (25-11, 25-10) after the visitors from the Lowcountry pushed Chee Lee's club before falling 25-21 in the pivotal second game.

The only drama in Tuesday's match came in the second game. Beaufort High stayed close with strong serving, ringing up seven aces. The Eagles got within 22-20 of the Wildcats.

Middle hitter Deja Jackson was key to the Eagles' scrappy showing in the second game with four aces and two kills. She finished with five aces and four kills.

Beaufort High, with 10 seniors on the roster, ends with a 15-14 record.

"I'm very proud of the season we had, especially for our seniors," Beaufort High coach Jeni Whitman said. "Lexington's a very strong team, but we kind of fell apart after playing so well as a team the whole year."

Mindy Morris had seven kills, Haley Dickson had seven assists and Blake Banner contributed four assists for the Eagles.

Senior outside hitter Kellie Schmidt led Lexington with 16 kills. Senior Laura Grace Swindler set for 29 assists.

Lexington will face school district rival White Knoll on Thursday at home with a ticket to the finals at stake. The Timberwolves created the all-Lexington showdown by upsetting third-ranked Aiken on the road.

"This is very familiar territory for us," said Lee. "Now, the real playoff pressure begins and I'm anxious to see how we react. Breaking though to get to the finals is something we've been wanting to do for a long time, but it's never quite worked out. Now we have another chance."