By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

HOGANSVILLE – It’s tourney time.

The LaGrange High volleyball team wrapped up its regular-season schedule with wins over Callaway and Valley (Ala.) on Tuesday.

LaGrange, along with Troup, will be at Chapel Hill today for the start of the Region 5-AAAA tournament.

Both teams will be in action at 4:30 p.m., with LaGrange playing Central-Carroll, and Troup facing Cartersville.

By the end of the day, there will be four teams remaining, and they will be the region’s representatives in the state tournament.

LaGrange has had a difficult time finishing off matches this year, but it found a way to secure a pair of wins on Tuesday.

After opening the day with a win over Callaway, LaGrange beat Valley (Ala.) to finish the regular season on a positive note.

LaGrange won both matches in straight sets.

“We played really well,” LaGrange coach Angie Newton said. “We had some good hits, and we had some really good team work tonight. We communicated a little bit better tonight, and I think that’s what helped us go ahead and finish it off.”

LaGrange finished seventh in the region, primarily because of its inability to win close matches.

“This has been one of the most frustrating years as far as not being able to finish,” Newton said. “We’ve had a real hard time being able to finish. We go down to the wire, and we can’t pull it off in the end.”

Nonetheless, LaGrange still has more volleyball to play, and it will look for a strong showing today.

“We’ve got a shot,” Newton said. “It depends on if they want to play or not. I think we can be as good as the number two and number three teams.”

Troup enters the region tournament as the number four seed, and it has been playing well down the stretch.

Troup has won seven of its past 10 matches, and it has won three in a row.

The Lady Tigers finished third in the region a year ago, and they followed that up by winning the first state-playoff match in school history.

“All season is working up to this tournament,” Troup coach Leigh Bailey said. “I told them I think we can do well in region. I’m excited about that.”

Also on Monday, Callaway bounced back from the loss to LaGrange to beat Valley.Callaway will complete its regular season with a match at Spencer today, and if it wins, it will participate in the Region 5-AA tournament on Saturday.

Callaway lost at Valley earlier this season.

“It’s a good victory for us, because they beat us last time,” Harris said. “They beat us three out of five, and our girls aren’t used to doing that, and their gym does not circulate.”

After losing to LaGrange, Callaway had to wait around a while before playing Valley.

“That first game, they were real upset that they lost it, so this was a good comeback, so they were excited about,” Harris said. “Plus, it’s senior night.”

Before the LaGrange match, Callaway seniors Keyerra Spencer, Alicia Marks, Abbie Gholston, Karly Tumlin, Tyghaza Lindsey and Zoe Howard were recognized.

“We appreciate everything they’ve done, and their parents are great,” Harris said.