The No. 3 ranked Chamblee lady Bulldogs lead a group of nine DeKalb County volleyball programs heading into Saturday’s first round action of the GHSA State Volleyball Playoffs.

Chamblee (41-5) earned a host role by claiming its fourth consecutive Area 5-5A title last week under the direction of Coach Lorri Reynolds who is just three wins shy of 300 for her career (297-177). Reynolds is now the winningest girls’ volleyball coach by over taking former Tucker coach Robin Potter (272-236-2). Chamblee leads DeKalb with a program record of 589-339.

The Bulldogs host Paulding Co. (22-16) at 11:00 am on Saturday followed by Warner Robins (13-19) and Starr’s Mill (30-12) at 12:30 pm. A second round game between the winners would follow at 2:00 pm.

In other Class 5A action three DeKalb teams enter the state playoffs looking for their first playoff wins.

Region 5-5A runner-up Clarkston (22-23) takes on East Paulding (4-18) in a 1:00 pm game at No. 1 ranked McIntosh. The Lady Angoras are making their third consecutive trip to the state playoffs behind Coach Joie Bullock and second consecutive season with 22 wins.

Araba Mountain (27-9) finished third in Area5-5A and travels to Veterans on Saturday to face Kell (32-15) at 11:00 am. It is the fourth consecutive appearance in the state playoffs by Coach Bruce Pledger’s squad.

Coach Kristina Parrish’s Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers travel to Carrollton (29-17) to face the host Trojans in a 1:00 pm match. It is the sixth consecutive state playoff appearance for Southwest DeKalb (21-11). Southwest DeKalb became the seventh program to eclipse 300 wins improving to 312-290 overall.

DeKalb has two entries in Class 6A state playoff action in Dunwoody and Tucker. Dunwoody became the second DeKalb program to go over the 500-win mark (512-356) as Coach Julie Gardner’s team finished 24-19 including a big win over Pope during the Area 7 Tournament.

The No. 3 seed Wildcats travel to Lakeside-Evans to take on No. 2 seed South Paulding (19-7-1) at 1:00 pm.

Coach Maureen Harris’ Tucker (29-14) squad rallied through the losers bracket last Saturday to earn the No. 2 seed with a win over Morrow to reach the Area 4-6A title game before dropping the championship match to Drew. The win over Morrow moved the Tucker program to 400 wins (400-346) and made the Tigers just the fourth DeKalb team to reach that plateau.

Tucker’s run earned them a trip to the state playoffs to take on Effingham County (13-30) in a 10:00 am match at Sequoyah on Saturday. If the Tigers win they would face the winner of the Sequoyah/Lanier match at 3:00 pm in a second round match.

The Lakeside Lady Vikings (24-18) are making an 11th consecutive state tournament appearance and travel to Lambert (22-12) on Saturday to face the host team at 12:30 pm in Class 7A play.

Druid Hills (17-12) is the No. 3 seed out Area 4-4A with a short trip to St. Pius X on Saturday to face No. 2 seed Perry (12-10) at 12:00 pm.

McNair (14-17) picked up a No. 3 seed out of Area 5-2A to reach the state playoffs for the first time since 2012 and just third ever appearance. Coach Gwendolyn Edwards’ team takes on No. 2 seed Dade County (16-14) at 1:30 pm on Saturday at Thomasville. McNair’s 14 wins is the most since going 17-11 under Doug Wheeler in 2006 and tied for the second most wins in program history.

DCSD VOLLEYBALL STATE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Saturday, Oct. 19
Class 7A
at Lambert
Lakeside (24-18) vs. Lambert (22-12), 12:30

Class 6A
at Lakeside Evans
Dunwoody (24-19) vs South Paulding (19-7-1), 1:00 pm

at Sequoyah
Tucker (29-14) vs. Effingham Co. (13-30), 10:00 am
If Tucker wins will face Sequoyah/Lanier winner, 3:00 pm

Class 5A
at Chamblee
Paulding Co. (22-16) vs. Chamblee (41-5), 11:00 am
Warner Robins (13-19) vs Starr’s Mill, 12:30 pm
Winners play at 2:00 pm

at McIntosh
Clarkston (22-23) vs East Paulding (4-18), 1:00 pm

at Veterans
Arabia Mountain (27-9) vs Kell (32-15), 11:00 am

At Carrollton
SW DeKalb (21-11) vs. Carrollton (29-17), 1:00 pm

Class 4A
at St. Pius
Druid Hills (17-12) vs Perry (12-10), 12:00 pm

A/2A Public
at Thomasville
McNair (14-17) vs Dade Co. (16-14), 1:30 pm