Fayetteville
OLM Volleyball Season Capped At Sweet 16
By MICHAEL ALEXANDER, Staff Photographer | Published October 27, 2011
On its way to the state volleyball tournament, Our Lady of Mercy High School defeated Landmark Christian School, Fairburn, 2-0 in the semifinals of the area tournament. In the Oct. 8 area championship game against Eagles Landing Christian Academy, McDonough, Mercy lost in four games 3-1. For the second consecutive year Mercy was the area runner-up.
Mercy entered the first round of the state tournament as the number two seed from Area 3 when they took on North Oconee High School of Bogart Oct. 12. Mercy defeated North Oconee 3-0, but in their Oct. 18 Sweet 16 match against Greater Atlanta Christian, they were defeated 3-0.
“Making it to the Sweet 16 and going 33-11 was a great accomplishment,” said Bill Schmitz, who just completed his eighth season as Mercy’s volleyball coach. While the team did not eclipse its 2010 Elite 8 appearance in the state tournament, the 2011 season had some highlights.
Senior outside hitter Olivia Schmitz and junior setter Mary Katherine Schmitz were selected as the All Area award winners, while senior right side setter Ashlyn Bodkin and junior libero Jenny Bui were selected as All Area honorable mention award winners. Bui and fellow junior defensive specialist Emily Longino were also selected as All Tournament award winners.
Olivia Schmitz also led the state in kills all season and was also ranked 13 nationally in kills with 651.