Sequoyah captured its second consecutive Area 5AAAA championship and a No. 1 seed in the state tournament Tuesday, beating East Paulding (25-16, 25-16, 25-18) at The War Lodge.

"The team played extremely well," Sequoyah coach Kelly Audia said. "Now we have got to build some momentum, go back to the gym and get ready to play at state."

Tori O'Brien logged a team-high nine kills, as well as seven digs, for the Lady Chiefs while Whitney Barton totaled 17 digs from her spot at libero. Emily Galloway posted five kills and Morgan Downey collected 19 assists.

"I thought Morgan Downey did a nice job tonight," Audia said of his setter. "She rebounded well. Even to her admission, she didn't play that well on Saturday. She really did play well (Tuesday). Tori is Tori and we are really happy she is on our side. She just kind of keeps sneaking up on everybody."

Sequoyah will face the No. 4 seed from Area 4AAAA at the state sectional tournament, which will begin Oct. 27 at two sites - Woodward Academy in College Park and Lithia Springs High School in Douglasville.

The Lady Chiefs struck early, building on a 13-5 opening lead with a block from Galloway. East Paulding struck back to cut the lead to 16-11, but two kills from O'Brien and a block from Ashley Reece helped to extend the lead to 25-16.

Sequoyah kept the momentum in Game 2, roaring to an 18-9 lead. The Lady Raiders' Laura Shipp, Hannah Volkodav and Bonnie Duncan delivered kills to cut the lead to 22-15, but the Lady Chiefs won three of the next four points to claim the second game in the best-of-five match 25-16.

Sequoyah rallied to another nine-point lead in Game 3, as the closest East Paulding could cut the lead was at 22-17. Three Lady Raiders shots sailed long en route to a 25-18 final to close the match for Sequoyah.

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