Two players with Polk County ties made deep runs at the AAU Girls National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Fla., at the Orange County Convention Center.
ScottLynn Whiteside
Polk County freshman ScottLynn Whiteside and her Stars 14 Chastain team, based in Spartanburg, finished fifth overall in the Gold bracket of the 14 Spirit division at AAU Wave 2, held June 20-23.
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The division featured 98 teams. Stars 14 Chastain finished 8-3, losing twice in pool play before being eliminated in the national quarterfinals with a 25-19, 25-10 loss to Kairos 14 Delta of Sioux Falls, S.D.
Akeela Cunningham
Recent Polk County graduate Akeela Cunningham came even closer to a national title, finishing as a national runner-up with Xcel Volleyball Performance’s 17 Elite Blue team at AAU Wave 3, held June 24-27.
Xcel, based in Hendersonville, finished 12-2, winning its first eight matches before a three-set loss to Northern Lights 17-5 in group play. The team won its next four matches to reach the national championship match before falling to Sky High Adidas 17 Onyx of Crystal Lake, Ill., 25-17, 22-25, 15-7.
Xcel 17 was coached by former Polk County head coach Kelly Risley.
Cunningham has committed to continue her playing career at Montreat College.
