Wednesday Night was a huge night in 4A boys volleyball as it saw the crowning of it's first Upper State Champion.  The atmosphere was electric with fan bases for both Wade Hampton and the visiting Eastside Eagles, eagerly cheering their teams on. Wade Hampton entered the match as the #1 seed and undefeated. The #2 seed Eagles were riding a 6 match winning streak and had only lost one set during that run. The Eagles did something no other team has done this season and took the first set from Wade Hampton25-18. The Generals were then shocked when the Boys from Eastside took the second set, 25-19. Just one set away from going to State, the Eagles narrowly lost the third set 23-25. Reeling somewhat, Eastside gave up the forth set 14-25.  After winning the coin-toss and electing to serve, the Eagles took the lead early in the 5th set. Like the entirety of the match, the 5th set saw momentum swings back and forth multiple times. Each point earning cheers and groans from both sides of the bleachers. Eastside broke into double digits first and looked to have control at 11-9, when Wade Hampton called a timeout. On the next serve the Generals regained service and despite timeouts by Eastside at 11-10 and again down 11-13, the tide would not turn back in the favor of the the Blue and Gold.  Wade Hampton won the 5th and final set as well as the 1st 4A Upper State championship. The Generals head into the State Championship undefeated. Eastside is the only team this season to take Wade to 5 sets, which they did twice this season. Eastside finished its inaugural season with a winning record of 13-11 overall and second in the region behind Wade Hampton. 

The first ever Boys Varsity 4A State Playoff match for our Volleyball team was in the Nest Monday night. The Mustangs of Midland Valley came in as the 3rd seed with an 8-2 record. The Eagles, who have had a full slate of matches this season, entered as the #2 seed at 12-10 riding a very heavy strength of schedule. Prior to the match, all players on both teams were recognized for their achievement of making the playoffs, and both teams posed together for a pre-match photo op. Both the boys and girls teams had matches and both were color outs Monday night. The Boys' fans and team were all dressed in black as the dimly lit Auxilary Gym provided the perfect back drop to set an ominous mood. The energy in the stands was palpable and grew with each set. Little was known of how the two teams would match up. After a back and forth start, the Eagles began to pull away in the 1st set winning 25-13 behind the serves of J'vion Ballenger and Connor Usher. The two combined for over half of the team's first set serves. The second set saw more great serving from Usher who was like a sniper targeting the Mustangs' defenders, while scoring 5 aces in the set. Eagles won that set 25-16. Captiain Nico Depalle would come alive in the 3rd set with 6 assists to5 different attackers. He would also add on two monstrous kills and a roof block for an all-around great set played. Eagles would let the Mustangs breath a little life into their lungs making the 3rd set a little close. They would however end on a emphatic kill from Connor Usher to win the set 25-21 and end the match. Together the team celebrated its first ever Playoff victory and moves on to face Region Champs and undefeated, Wade Hampton at Wade Hampton at 6 on Wednesday night. This will determine the Upper State Champions and the winner will go to Keenan High School in Columbia Saturday for the State Championships.,

Wednesday night was one to remember in the Nest for the Boys Volleyball team. Prior to the match, Seniors J'vion Ballenger, Thien Ngyuen, Kaden Hughes, Sam Jones, and Nico Depalle were recognized by the team and fans along with their parents. The match itself started slow for the Eagles with Woodmont winning the first set easily 15-25. It looked as if the Wildcats were going to roll like they did a couple weeks ago when they won 3-0 at home. However, under the guidance of the Seniors who remained poised and composed, the Eagles would make sure this outcome was not the same. Led by Captain Nico Depalle, the Eagles would dominate the second set 25-11. They navigated a third set victory, 25-23. The Eagles would finish off the Wildcats in the 4th set 25-14.  Depalle led with 31 assists, 4 kills, and 2 aces. Senior back row specialists J'vion Ballenger and Thien Ngyuen played exceptional defense allowing the hitters a multitude of attack opportunities. Nguyen would add two assists to the box score as well. Assistant Captain Connor Usher led the team in kills with 12. He also added 3 aces, an assist, and a block. Senior Middle Sam Jones added 8 kills with 4 blocks. Jones led all Eastside servers with 4 aces. Sophomore Preston Anderson had his best hitting night of the season with 8 kills and an ace. Sophomore Chase Noblitt had 5 kills and a block form the Middle position. Senior Kaden Hughes rounded out the stats by adding 3 kills from the Right Side. The Boys now await seeding this Friday from the Palmetto Region of USA Volleyball for this season's State Invitational Tournament. 

The Boys Varsity Volleyball team defeated Riverside at home Monday night 3-0. The win gives the Eagles a winning record against 4A teams this year and takes the team to 10-10 overall. Junior Connor Usher and Senior Sam Jones both had 10 kills with Usher adding 4 aces. Senior Setter Nico Depalle assisted on 18 kills on the evening.  The Boys look to extend their three match winning streak Tuesday night in front of what promises to be a large and  excited home crowd prior to revealing the total amount EHS raised for charity during Spirit Week.

Eastside Boys Volleyball traveled to J.L. Mann on Monday night for their last road game of the regular season, and defeated the Patriots in straight sets.  The Eagles started the match slow but finished strong. Eastside was led by Senior Setter Nico Depalle and his 21 assists to 6 different attackers.  The service game was a little shaky in the first two sets, but when Senior J'vion Ballenger began his service rotation in the third set, the Eagles dug their talons in and finished off the Patriots by running off nine straight point. Ballenger capped the match with an ace to end it.  The Boys Volleyball Eagles will return to The Nest Wednesday against Hillcrest to start a 4 game homestand to end the regular season. 

The EHS Boys Volleyball team Beat Mauldin at home last Thursday night 3-1.  The boys then traveled to Dorman Saturday for the Dorman Invitational Tournament. In pool play they lost to undefeated Dorman who would go on to win the Gold Bracket championship.  After defeating AC Flora 2-0, the Eagles placed into the Silver Bracket. In Bracket play, Eastside defeated Clover and Mauldin, before falling to Clover in the Silver Championship. The Boys brought energy and excitement to every match and look to continue the positive momentum into Monday nights match at JL Mann.

Eastside Boys Volleyball defeated Riverside at Riverside despite a lively Warrior fan section.  Eastside took the first two sets fairly easily, however, after an ankle injury to Senior Right Side Kaden Hughes, Riverside rode momentum through most of the 3rd set. Eastside was able to come back and eventually win on the strong service of Sophomore Ty Tumblin.  Junior Connor Usher had a strong overall game with 6 kills, 4 assists, and 9 aces. Senior Nico Depalle added 10 assists and 2 kills, Senior Sam Jones had 5 kills, 2 aces, and 1 assist. Sophomores Preston Anderson, Ty Tumblin, and Chase Noblitt all contributed with multiple kills each. The Eagles will travel to Woodmont on Wednesday to take on the defending State Invitational Champions at 6:00  

Straight Set Victory 3-0 (25-14; 27-25; 25-23) 1st SCHSL Victory in history for Eastside Boys Volleyball J'vion Ballenger (12 service points) and Connor Usher (11 service points) led the team in a strong night for EHS serving.