Veterans falls to Woodward Academy in volleyball playoffs

WARNER ROBINS -- The Veterans Warhawks competed hard but were overwhelmed by a more proven Woodward Academy program as they fell 3-0 in the second round of the GHSA Class AAAA volleyball playoffs Tuesday.

Veterans continually has proven to be the strongest program in Area 2-AAAA, winning yet another area title this season without dropping a single game. But Woodward Academy has won 10 state championships since and is led by Tad Sahara, who has won five of those titles as head coach.

"Coming in, (Sahara) didn't know a lot of things about us, and no one really knows about us in the volleyball world, but he had a lot of nice things to say afterwards about how he was impressed," Veterans head coach Nicki Miranda said. "I think we're getting there. It's going to take a big win like this. I'm real proud of these girls. They exceeded my expectations going in."

Things proved to be tight in the opening game.

The Warhawks led almost throughout, including 19-15 late, before Woodward Academy tied it on service from Lauren Harrison, eventually winning the set 25-22. It took the second set two 25-19 and cruised 25-9 in the third set.

"We were neck-and-neck in that first game, and my goal was to push, push, push when we had (Harrison) on that back row," Miranda said. "I felt that if we could've taken that first game, it would have been a little more competitive throughout, but they're tough. They have a lot of weapons, and they're fundamentally sound."

Harrison, a sophomore who has committed to play at North Carolina, finished with 19 kills and hurt the Warhawks even when she wasn't by the net.

Anna Nicholson and Madi Purse led the attack for Veterans.

"When I talked to a few coaches about (Harrison), they said that she was the real deal. We dug a few, and we blocked a few, so we were ready for her front row, but her back row attack was a lot more lethal than I had anticipated."

This story was originally published October 20, 2015 at 9:45 PM with the headline "Veterans falls to Woodward Academy in volleyball playoffs ."