Dunwoody's volleyball team swept Habersham Central 3-0 on Saturday, Oct. 17, earning a spot in the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Class 6A Sweet 16.

The Wildcats won by set scores of 25-17, 25-21 and 25-18, according to the Dunwoody schedule on MaxPreps. The victory improved Dunwoody's record to 33-12 on the season.

It is a sharp turnaround. Last season, the Wildcats finished 12-15 and missed the postseason entirely.

The reward is a road trip. Dunwoody travels to Veterans High School in Kathleen on Tuesday, Oct. 20, for a 5:30 p.m. Sweet 16 match, according to MaxPreps. The Warhawks enter at 35-7 and are ranked No. 1 in Macon. They swept Chapel Hill 3-0 in their own first-round match.

Veterans holds statistical edges in kills (1,053 to Dunwoody's 923) and serving aces (459 to 324). Dunwoody leads in digs (1,626 to 1,171) and receptions (1,437 to 1,213).

Senior McKenna Willard, a University of Alabama at Birmingham commit, leads the Wildcats with 215 kills, 90 serving aces and 408 assists. Libero Simone Stroe anchors the back row with 366 digs and 581 receptions. Alyssa Quick paces the net with 54 blocks.

For Veterans, outside hitter Tori Robinson has piled up 384 kills, and setter Alyssa Baughier has recorded 809 assists and 88 aces.

Second-year coach Alex Reese has credited team chemistry for the turnaround. In a Sept. 29 Appen Media article after the Wildcats won the Rally High Tournament, Reese described the difference from last year.

"They're working together … That is a big difference, is that last year there were moments where it looked like there are six individual players on the court, and this year it's looked like there are six team members out there," Reese said.

That cohesion carried Dunwoody to tournament titles at the Spike Fest (the DeKalb County championship) in early August and the Rally High Tournament on Sept. 12. The Wildcats also beat Milton 3-1 on Sept. 17, a program milestone.

Dunwoody finished second in 6A Region 4 with a 6-2 region record. MaxPreps ranks the Wildcats No. 12 in Class 6A and No. 42 in Georgia. Veterans sits at No. 14 in Class 6A.

If the Wildcats advance past Veterans, the quarterfinals are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24.