Augusta Prep volleyball head coach Rich Bland expects a hard-fought battle every time the Lady Cavaliers face South Aiken, and that’s exactly what he got Wednesday.

After sweeping the Lady Thoroughbreds in 2011, a young Augusta Prep (1-1) team hoped to start the season continuing the streak. They played the Lady Thoroughbreds close but lost 25-23, 25-16, 25-22.

“I was happy overall,” said Bland, noting he started five sophomores against a much-improved South Aiken team.

The Augusta Christian Lady Lions volleyball team had its moments on the court Tuesday night, but not enough to avoid falling to the Jefferson Davis Lady Raiders.

The Lady Lions (0-2) lost the best-of-five match, 25-23, 25-14, 25-20.

“We have quite a few new people on the team with not really a depth of experience,” said Lady Lions head coach Chuck Renfro. “We’re struggling a little bit right now, but they’re learning and working hard. Hopefully they’ll pick up some slack and we’ll have a better rest of the season.”

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It was a historic night at Harlem’s softball field Thursday.

When the Lady Bulldogs beat Evans 4-2, it was the first time since the schools started playing fastpitch softball in 1997 that Harlem had beaten the Lady Knights.

Harlem’s six-year head coach Mike Leverett enjoyed beating Evans head coach Colette Cassedy for once.

“I had never beat them,” said Leverett with a big grin. “I don’t take it hard when she beats me. I hate it, but we’re good friends and it’s always a good game when we play them.”

If the level of competition at the Greenbrier Playday is any indication, area high school volleyball is in good shape.

With five teams participating, every school in the area won at least one game. The only team without a win was Clarke Central (Region 8-AAAAA) from Athens, Ga., which went 0-4.

The host Lady Wolfpack entered the round-robin event with a perfect 5-0 record, and while tested at times, won all four matches to improve to 9-0.