The Richmond Hill Lady Wildcats’ volleyball season has officially come to a close. The Lady Wildcats had yet another remarkable season where they made it to the Elite Eight, but came up just short of the final four as they were defeated by the North Forsyth Lady Raiders volleyball team out of Cumming, Georgia.
The Lady ‘Cats finished with one of the best seasons in program history as they went 40-3 on the year, with a .930 win percentage and a perfect 10-0 in the region, capturing their fourth straight region title. The Lady ‘Cats won the Region 1-7A region title in 2022 and 2023. When the GHSA dissolved region 7-A, they would then win the Region 1-6A title in 2024 as well.
The Lady ‘Cats finished with an astonishing 14-0 record on the year while on the road, where it is always difficult to win games due to being at the opponents’ school. They went 22-2 on the year for home games, and also went 4-1 in neutral site games. Their only losses on the year came from Alpharetta, who is 38-1 on the year and will play for the state championship on Thursday, Savannah Christian, who made it to the Sweet 16 in their own region and North Forsyth, who made it to the Final Four.
The Lady ‘Cats finished with an overall state ranking of 19 in all classifications in the state of Georgia, and in 6th place overall for the entire classification of 6A, as well as first place overall for the Savannah-area, which consists of 52 area high schools.
“This season was truly special because of our team’s commitment and perseverance,” Johnson said. “As a program, we faced a lot of challenges — from coaching changes to unexpected obstacles — but the way everyone adjusted and continued to succeed showed how resilient this group was. Every girl on the team played with heart, talent, and something to prove. Even though the final result might not reflect everything we poured into the season, there’s no denying that this team was incredibly strong and special.
“Now that the season’s over, I really miss my girls — it feels strange not seeing my best friends every day. This team became a family, and that’s something I’ll always carry with me.”
As the Lady ‘Cats move forward to the future, they will have the work cut out for them, as they will be looking to replace ten seniors on their roster of sixteen athletes, including senior Talia Johnson, who is currently committed to Coastal Carolina to continue her academic and athletic career. The seniors that competed for Richmond Hill were able to secure a region championship in all four years of playing high school volleyball, and the next group of athletes are looking to continue that same trend.
“Looking ahead, I think next year’s seniors are definitely players to watch,” Johnson said. “While we’re losing some height and key setters, I have complete confidence that our underclassmen will rise to the occasion. This program has always stood for excellence and unity, and as long as they continue to play for each other, that winning legacy will absolutely continue.”