Starting this past season with a small and young group of players, Polk County’s varsity volleyball team topped three teams in the state playoffs, before falling in the fourth round.

In only her second year at the helm, Wolverine head coach Molly Hill has delivered in both seasons. Last year, her squad made it to the third round.

She’s very pleased her players recently won three straight matches in the state tournament.

“We accomplished a lot of things,” Hill reflected. She noted that some players had to work at positions new to them, and worked hard to succeed.

“When it clicked, and everyone got it, it worked,” she remarked.

She added that some players stood out as both vocal and physical leaders, leading by their performance.

After winning the Western Highlands Conference title with an 11-1 record, the Wolverines met a determined Franklin squad in the first round of the state tournament. Hill’s players, however, were not intimidated by Franklin’s aggressiveness, pulling out a three-games-to-none (25-18, 25-15, 25-23) win at PCHS on Oct. 24.

Ashley Love’s 13 kills led the Wolverines, followed by 11 from Regan Waddell, and eight by Addie Lynch.

Next challenge was West Stanly, whom Polk hosted on Oct. 27, defeating the Colts, again by three games to none (25-18, 25-16, 25-17).

Love again led in kills with 15, with Waddell adding 11.

Third-round play pitted the Wolverines against Brevard’s Blue Devils at Brevard. Brevard won two games of five, but Polk took three. Game breakdown for the Wolverines was 24-26, 25-18, 19-25, 25-23, 15-13.

Love’s 21 kills topped Polk. Waddell hit 19, and Lynch nine.

That win helped Polk advance to the fourth round, meeting Maiden at Maiden.

These Blue Devils topped the Wolverines, 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 22-25, and 17-25). Again, Love (14) and Waddell (12) led the Wolverines in kills.

While she “was very pleased (with the season),” Hill noted, “I would have loved to go further. I love my girls.”