THOMASVILLE – After a stellar season and an incredible win streak, the Thomasville Lady Bulldogs lost in three sets to Pepperell in the second round of the state playoffs.

The Lady Dragons had to take down a tough Thomasville group, who put up a good fight. The Lady Bulldogs put up 16, 13, and 12 points in each of the three sets. Pepperell’s star Hannah Smith had 12 kills in the match and two aces.

Thomasville attempted a comeback in the first set, storming back from a double-digit deficit, but they were unable to rally for the win.

Thomasville had an excellent season that started off with some adversity. In preparation for 1A play, the Lady Bulldogs took on a tough opening stretch of matches against higher classification opponents. Thomasville started with seven straight losses.

However, they proved just how good they were and how much that tough schedule paid off when they began facing 1A competition. Thomasville went on an incredible 16-game win streak that included a win over Thomas County Central. They lost just two sets in those 16 matches, both to Thomas County Central, on their way to a first-round sweep of Mitchell County.

The Lady Bulldogs may have fallen short in round two and their state title dreams, but they have absolutely nothing to hang their heads over.

“The main thing I was looking for from last year to this year, from the beginning to end, was just improvement,” said Thomasville head coach Jackie King. “Saturday the girls, they played so well. I saw things, diving, and working together that had not happened in the beginning that just improved so much.”

One season after winning just four games, Thomasville finished their 2024 campaign with a 16-8 record and went 10-0 in the region, securing a region title and a spot in the second round of the state playoffs.