Sports
Walton Edges Pope in Volleyball
The East Cobb schools put on a five-game thriller Thursday in a battle of state championship rivals.
They're backyard rivals and state champions, and their matches against one another are fierce.
But the friendships between players on the Pope and Walton volleyball teams were celebrated just as much as their latest clash on Thursday, as you'll see in this highlight video.
Walton dropped an earlier match to Pope at a tournament at Marist earlier this season, but that was a best two-of-three format.
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Thursday's contest at Pope was the best three-of-five games, and the Lady Greyhounds and Lady Raiders literally pushed one another to the limit.
But Walton (6-2) gained the edge in a dramatic third game and eventually handed Pope (9-1) its first loss of the season in a 25-20, 25-22, 28-26, 25-18, 15-11 thriller.
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The Lady Raiders (6-2) are the defending Class 5A state champions and are ranked No. 3 thus far. Top-ranked Pope, which won the 5A title in 2009, is looking for a three-peat after winning the Class 4A crown last year.
The Marietta Daily Journal has more from Thursday's match.
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