Bishop England wins the Sweet Sixteen in volleyball

It seems like every time the Bishop England volleyball team wins a state championship it makes national high school sports news.
That was the case Saturday when the Bishops topped Buford in straight sets with a 25-15, 25-13, 25-17 victory in the Class AA state championship, which was contested at White Knoll High School in Lexington.
It gave the Bishops’ their 16th consecutive state championship, which ties the national record according to the National High School Federation of Sports record book. The Episcopal School of Acadiana (Cade, La.), won 16 in a row from 1987 to 2002.
Bishop England already owned the national record for state volleyball titles with 25 overall until Saturday, which was No. 26.
The Bishops finished the season at 40-9-4 and did not lose a set during their run in the state playoffs. The team is led by all-star seniors Montana Swanson and Ashley Brazell, who led the Bishops to a 20-0 playoff record over the last four seasons.
Coach Cindy Baggott cemented her place as one the sport’s greatest coaches in state history.
She has now coached the Bishops to nine state titles. That gives her a share of No. 2 on the all-time coaching list according to Palmetto’s Finest. She shares the No. 2 spot with former BE coach Amelia Dawley, who coached Baggott at the college of Charleston, and Peggy Anthony of Pickens. Another former BE coach, Kathy Blackmon, is fifth on the list with seven state championships coached.
“I’m the caretaker of tradition that started a long time ago,” Baggott told reporters after the game. “To be mentioned with (coach Dawley) means a lot. I was given a great opportunity here when she left. My challenge is to keep the torch lit.”
Paula Kirkland of Dorman holds the state record with 11 state championships under her belt. She was denied her 12th title Saturday when Wando topped Dorman to win the Class AAAA crown.
Buford didn’t lose a set in its four previous playoff victories. But the Bishops were too much for the tenacious team that finished with an 18-9 record.
Swanson finished with a game-high 12 kills, while Brazell added seven along with 12 digs. Senior Victoria Boals set up nine assists. Junior Rhetta Moore added 10 assists. She also plays for the Bishops’ basketball team and has a goal of another hoops state title.
The Bishops will compete at the Class AAA level next year when the High School League goes through its biannual reclassification. It will be a challenge because 21 of the Bishops’ titles came at the Class AA level.
But if there is a program up for the challenge, it’s Bishop England.
The feeder-program is strong and the players have advanced abilities and know the expectations by the time they check into the school’s Daniel Island campus.
Seniors on the roster include Eliza Willburger, Ashley Burns, Molly Park, Jordan Hollingsowrth, Maddie Woods, Swanson, Brazell and Boals.
The seniors have won 74 percent of their matches and of course, are the proud owners of four state titles.