BLYTHEWOOD – After closing out the regular season with a 3-0 win at home over Sumter on Oct. 22, Blythewood entered the 5A Division 1 state playoffs as a seven seed. They faced No.10 Dutch Fork in the first round on Oct. 31 and came away with a 3-2 win.
Dutch Fork claimed the first set with a 25-17 win, then took the second by a narrower 25-21 margin. Facing elimination, the Bengals rebounded to win the third set 25-23 and then a 25-16 win in the fourth to force a deciding fifth set. Momentum in their favor, the Bengals claimed the match win with a 15-11 win in the fifth set.
Makalah Ford led the Bengal offense with 14 Kills. Sophomore Riley Lyons had nine kills and two blocks. Mya Johnson had 17 digs, nine assists, and four aces; Jade Wells finished with 14 assists, 11 digs and three aces. Freshman setter Charlotte Eddis also had 14 assists.
The win advanced Blythewood to a Nov. 5 match against No.2 Lexington. The Wildcats outmatched the Bengals from the opening set, taking 25-9, 25013 and 25-15 wins to secure a 3-0 win and eliminate Blythewood from playoff contention.
The loss put Blythewood at 15-16 on the season. They finished third in 5A Region 5 with an 8-4 record behind Westwood (12-0) and Lugoff-Elgin (10-2). Westwood and Lugoff-Elgin both entered into the 5A Division 2 playoff bracket.
According to MaxPreps.com, Senior Kristen Galloway ended the season leading the Bengals with 177 kills. Lyons led Blythewood with 68 aces and 72 total blocks (21 solo). Mya Johnson had 311 digs and 495 service receptions on the season to lead Blythewood’s defense, and Jade Wells led the team with 377 assists.
Lexington advances to face River Bluff tonight.
