South Carolina School Hosts Volleyball Match During School Hours

Dorman High School of Roebuck, South Carolina, made headlines recently – for the second time in school history. On September 5, the Dorman Cavaliers volleyball team faced off against the Lexington (South Carolina) High School Wildcats in what was a rematch of the 2024 South Carolina High School League Class AAAAA Division I Upper State Final.

What made this game unique, however, was that it started at 2 p.m. during school hours. More than 3,000 students packed into the Dorman arena to cheer on the Cavaliers, giving the game an electrifying atmosphere. The Cavaliers rolled to victory as they swept the Wildcats 3-0 in front of a passionate crowd.

Paula Kirkland has been the girls volleyball coach for 45 years and was inducted into the NFHS National High School Hall of Fame in 2024 and just won her 17th state championship – the third straight for Dorman as the Cavaliers defeated River Bluff, 3-2. She also previously served on the NFHS Volleyball Rules Committee.

The experience Dorman had playing in high-pressure games in front of big crowds played a big part in the team’s dominant victory. “The experiences our girls have playing here and playing for their club programs, I think prepare them for playing on the big stage,” Kirkland said.

Coming off two state championships and playing in tournaments with big crowds was enough to make sure Kirkland’s group was ready. The players were proud of this unique opportunity, giving them the chance to play in front of a large crowd. The NFHS Hall of Fame inductee also added that she wouldn’t rule out another game during school hours in the future.

In the packed crowd were many students who had never attended a volleyball game. Dorman used the game as an educational experience to teach students about the No. 2 most popular high school sport nationally for girls.

“The week before, we showed clips of games, especially on my hall,” said Assistant Coach Stephanie Chastain. The school was adamant about making an academic connection with volleyball, as multiple teachers within the school’s math department included lessons related to the sport leading up to the day of the game.

Scheduling the game was not an easy process for Dorman and was not finalized until one month before the game was played. Although there were some initial security concerns, the district superintendent gave the go-ahead, and after working through a few logistical concerns, the game was scheduled. “We had full support from the superintendent on down,” said Kirkland.

Dorman was pleased to welcome the Lexington Wildcats, allowing them to practice in the school’s arena which Kirkland described as having a “small college atmosphere.” Both teams’ players and coaching staff even had lunch together before they faced off. Lexington arrived early enough to have an ample practice opportunity after the 90-minute drive north to Dorman. Parents of Lexington players also had their own individual seating area.

The game drew widespread attention beyond those in the stands that day. A Facebook livestream was set up for people to watch the game. “There were thousands of people who watched, and we don’t even have that many people that follow us,” said Chastain. Dorman went all out for the game in an effort to really boost the atmosphere, using a new lighting system that projects onto the playing floor that displayed pictures of Kirkland’s team.

Student involvement played a critical role in Dorman’s victory over Lexington. Kirkland said it definitely added some nerves but that the energy and noise levels were a big factor that contributed to the game’s spirited atmosphere. When asked about the support that Dorman volleyball has received and its impact on the program’s culture, Kirkland said, “I feel like we’re extremely blessed.”

Noah Eaton is a spring intern in the NFHS Publications/Communications Department. He is a senior at Indiana University in Bloomington.