Region champs T.L. Hanna, D.W. Daniel open playoffs

T.L. Hanna won its second straight volleyball Region 1-AAAA title, and will open the playoffs Tuesday against defending state champion Byrnes. It’s the second straight year Hanna’s opened the playoffs against the defending state champion.

And it’s another team from the traditionally strong Region 2, which has produced the state champion the last three years.

To win the region, Hanna coach Bethany Comstock said a turning point in the season was a loss at Greenwood, because the Lady Yellow Jackets had two injured players, but didn’t buckle, despite an 18-16 decision in the final game.

“We went out and did what we needed to do,” said Comstock, who called it the team’s best game of the season. “It wasn’t winning, but they continued to play.”

Hanna’s 14-6 season has been fueled by the play of senior captain and middle hitter Cauley Simmons, who was selected to the all-state team last week.

“She goes out and kills the ball,” Comstock said. “She’s the person that the girls follow.”

Simmons’ kills usually come from sophomore setter Molly McCoy, who’s among the team leaders in hustle, and also communicates well.

“I cannot wait to see what she’s going to be her senior year,” Comstock said. “She’s going to be awesome.”

CONFIDENT DANIEL

No. 1-ranked D.W. Daniel volleyball opens the playoffs Tuesday against J.L. Mann still riding a wave of excitement following its region-clinching win over Pickens last Monday.

“That was a great one, I don’t know if I’ll ever settle down from that one,” Daniel coach Joy Stewart said. “When you see all your hard work pay off like this, they’re so confident that they want to keep going.”

The Lady Lions are especially confident after erasing a 15-4 deficit in the second game against Pickens to win 28-26.

“To have that feather in that cap,” Stewart said. “I don’t see them losing with way they’re playing now, without one heck of a fight.”

Stewart said other contenders in Daniel’s path to a championship include Eastside, Lugoff-Elgin, Riverside and Eastside.

But the difference between this year’s undefeated team, and previous Daniel teams is mental toughness.

“Without that mental game, you cannot win,” Stewart said. “They knew they could do it, and mentally we have not been as advanced as we are now. They really worked on that mental toughness.”

In other action around the area, Wren travels to Dorman, and West-Oak goes to Eastside.