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South Aiken’s volleyball team huddled near the bench Saturday night at Dreher High School, in need of a quick rebound after dropping a rollercoaster of a first set in the Class AAAA state championship.

Already trailing and in a new environment against a North Myrtle Beach team that played on this same stage a year ago, the T-Breds gathered for a season- and career-defining pep talk.

They needed to prove that they wanted it, and they needed to do it now. 

“We just came in, and we were like, ‘OK, we have to do it for each other,’” said senior libero Katie Roberts. ”‘This is our last time playing together. We have to do it for each other.’”

They regrouped and returned to the court, then made history. The T-Breds solidified their legacy by winning the program’s first state championship, beating North Myrtle Beach 28-30, 25-18, 25-21, 25-21 in an instant classic that was the best possible send-off for South Aiken’s seven seniors.  

“I’m just so, so excited and just so proud of these girls,” said South Aiken head coach Cassie Mckie. “Their fight — we were getting plays up and balls up that probably would’ve scored any other time, I feel, but they just have the desire to keep the ball alive and to get the ball over the net. They will remember this night for the rest of their lives, and I’m just so thankful that it’s a positive one for them and just a great feeling for these seniors to have a legacy, to leave behind a legacy for our program. Winning the first state title for South Aiken is pretty amazing.”