Ellie Ayala has been an impact player with Savannah Arts volleyball since her freshman season, whenthe Panthers reached the state finals for the first time in school history in a season that ended with a loss to Morgan County.
Last year, the standout setter/right side hitter was named the Area 2-2A Player of the Yearand helped lead Savannah Arts to the Class 2A state semifinals.
Now a junior, Ayala is having another stellar season and has emerged as a team leader for the Panthers who swept visiting Bryan County 25-8, 25-4, 25-9 on Tuesday, Oct. 20, to reach the Elite Eight in the GHSA Class A/AA state playoffs.
Savannah Arts improved to 28-14 and will face the winner of Banks County and Amuchee in a quarterfinal matchup set for Saturday, Oct. 24th.
If Amuchee wins, the Panthers will be on the road. Savannah Arts will host if Banks County wins, with the time for the match to be announced.
Savannah Arts and Bryan County volleyball teams played in the same Area this season and met for the third time this year in the Sweet 16 matchup Tuesday. The Panthers fed Bryan County a big dose of Ayala and Charlotte Browne, the 6-foot-2 senior middle blocker who dominated at the net.
Lena Anne Smith, Ava Dancey and freshman Helen Crenshaw also played well for the Panthers, with libero Isabella Jaqua anchoring the back line.
"Ellie is so incredible, not only as a player, but she has become such an incredible leader for our team and stepped up in so many ways this year," Panther coach Lauren Lord said. "The girls really look for her feedback, as well as mine, and Ellie is not afraid to tell them what they need to hear. The girls love it because they know how versatile and good she is and they feed off of her."
The Panthers played in Area 3-2A with traditional Savannah private school powers including Savannah Christian, Calvary Day and St. Vincent's. The Panthers reached the Area finals where they lost to Savannah Christian (43-3), considered one of the top teams in the state across all classifications.
Ayala thinks that rugged regular season schedule is paying dividends in the postseason.
"Savannah Christian was definitely a tough opponent with so many tough players," Ayala said. "And I think it prepared us, especially our defense, to play against strong teams. We also played a lot of high caliber teams in the tournaments we had in the regular season, so I think that helps us stay together when things aren't going well."
Lord said the team's tight knit foundation has been the key to the Panthers success this year.
"This team loves each other so much and that camaraderie is what makes them fight for each other," Lord said. "That's what is making them click. Even if we're off on a play and running out of system they find a way to make the kill. It's that connection that they have with each other."
Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah Arts advances in volleyball playoffs with Ayala leading the way
