The 24th-ranked Fannin County High School volleyball team traveled over 1000 miles in four days to earn a spot in the Georgia Single A Division Elite Eight with two wins in the 2025 state tournament.
The Lady Rebels traveled seven hours and defeated ninth ranked Thomasville in three sets, 25-6, 25-18, 25-15, Wednesday, October 15. Then, they traveled three hours to Barnesville and defeated eighth ranked Lamar County October 18 in three sets, 25-21, 25-22, 25-14.
Against Thomasville, the Lady Rebels started great, dominated the first set and never looked back.
“Thomasville was shocked at how well the Lady Rebels were playing. We only trailed by four points in the second set but overcame it quickly.” Head Coach Suzianne Pass said. “I was very proud at how hard they played and how they played together.”
For the Lady Rebels, Taber Pass had two aces and five digs. Karleigh Hurd had one dig and one kill. Amberly Patterson had two aces, 13 digs, and one kill. Maggie Ledford had six aces, five digs, and four kills. Keslie Kea had three aces, six digs, and nine kills. Karis Hurd had one ace, five digs and nine kills. Maya Butler had six aces, two digs, and one kill. Addelyn Barnes had two kills. Kendall Clore had one ace, two digs, and five kills. In the assists department, Ledford had 23, Pass had one, Kea had two, Karis Hurd and Patterson each had four.
Against eighth ranked Lamar County, the Lady Rebels started out a little slow, but woke up and never looked back.
“This is the best the Lady Rebels have played as a team all year. They communicated, moved and played as a team. I was so proud of how they were focused after a long week of practices, travel and matches,” said Pass. “Our seniors were focused and great leaders in this match and that was a big factor in our success today.”
Against Lamar County, Kea had 10 kills, one ace, four digs and one assist. Clore had five kills and one dig. Karis Hurd had seven kills, six digs and one assist. Pass had three kills two aces, seven digs and one assist. Karleigh Hurd had four kills. Ledford had one kill, three aces, four digs, and 27 assists. Barnes had one kill. Patterson had 12 digs and one assist, and Butler had two aces and two digs.
Fannin will travel 134 miles one way to take on number one ranked Bremen Wednesday (today). “They know they are good. They are one of the best teams in North Georgia. We’re not going down without a fight,” said Pass.
The Elite Eight includes, according to state rankings, number one Bremen, number two Gordon Lee, number three Oglethorpe County, number 10 Model, number 11 Lake Oconee Academy, number 12 Chatooga, number 20 Haralson County and Fannin at number 24. “That’s pretty wild to me,” said Pass.
Being number 24 has motivated Fannin to show the competition they are not a number 24 team.
“We by far play in the toughest area in single A in the state of Georgia. Four of the eight teams are from our area. We play in tough competition all year,” Pass said.
Pass said Fannin has improved a lot recently on their serving receive. “They’ve got more confidence in each other. They are trusting each other. Any team sport you have to trust your teammates and this team has finally learned to trust each other.”
She said the girls are tired because of the travel, but they persevere.
“Seeing them win and watching them jump up and down and scream and hug each other, it’s great. As a coach, that is what you want to see,” said Pass. “We’re super thrilled. They are still hungry and still motivated.”
Pass said these victories would not be possible without bus drivers Brandon Tipton and Greg O’Neal, and Resource Officers Tommy Shook, Eric Wood, and Anthony Walden. Pass thanked them for their support and dedication to their safety.