By Chris Sokoloski

csokoloski@gtowntimes.com

Waccamaw High's volleyball team opened the playoffs with a win over Andrews on Monday night, but the Yellow Jackets made the Warriors earn every point.

Andrews came out strong in the first game of the match, building an 11-6 lead and forcing Waccamaw coach Jill Schoen to call a timeout to settle down her team.

The Warriors then scored five straight points to tie the game at 11-11. The teams traded points to 15-15 and then Andrews took control and went ahead 19-16.

A kill by Melaina Moore stopped the Andrews momentum, and Ora Parker Eddy served Waccamaw to a 25-19 win.

"They were in it," Andrews coach Kathy Stewart said. "If [only] they played every game like that first game. They came ready to play, but we just let down and when you let down on Waccamaw, they take over."

Sienna Herndon served Waccamaw to a 5-0 start in game two before Andrews won a long rally to get on the board.

Waccamaw built a 10-3 lead before Kara Lambert led an Andrews comeback to 10-6.

Moore then extended the Waccamaw lead to 15-7, and Andrews could get no loser than five points before losing 25-15.

Both teams traded points at the beginning of game three before Taylor Foster served Waccamaw to a 9-4 advantage.

Andrews scored a point for 9-5, but it was as close at the Yellow Jackets would get, as the Warriors closed out the match with a 25-13 victory.

Ainsleigh Boothe led Waccamaw with face aces, Eddy had four aces, and Moore had nine kills.

"It's great to have a match like this," Schoen said. "We know that the [Andrews] girls are going to go out there and their side is going to give us a run for our money, keep us on out toes."

Waccamaw (18-5) hosts Dillon tonight at 6 p.m. in round two of the playoffs.

Logan Cannon and Carly Browder led Andrews with perfect serving.

The Yellow Jackets finished the season 6-12 overall and 3-7 in the conference.

"We had a lot of growth on the team," said Stewart, who took over the team about one week before the preseason county scrimmage. "We had a lot of talent. ... When they played up to their potential they were awesome."