The Pinecrest volleyball team polished off South View with a 25-16, 25-16 and 25-13 victory Saturday, in the opening round of the 4-A state playoffs at James Moore Gym.

The second-seeded Patriots (20-8) were sharp in all departments, bringing the season to an end for the Tigers (13-9), the third seed from the Mid-South Conference. Just as they did last year, coach Barbara Foxx’s squad will travel to Garner (20-3) for a round-two meeting with the Trojans, the top seed from the Greater Neuse River Conference. The Pats defeated the Trojans a year ago.

Libero Rae Nunez, and setters Megan Thomas and Keegan Lynch, showed soft hands in the early going. The beneficiaries were attackers Felicia Painter, Amber Goodwin and Ashleigh Welton. Long service runs by Callie Boone and Nunez also helped the Pats jump out to a 19-8 lead. The final point of the first set came on a win at the net by Goodwin.

Thomas served for nine points in the second game and Miriam King finished it off with a service ace. During a long rally in the middle of the third set, Goodwin’s third block in a row won the point that gave the home side an 11-6 advantage. The hard serving King was on the line for five consecutive points, the last one an ace, making it 23-13. A win at the net by Goodwin ended things in a timely fashion.

Painter finished with 14 kills and Goodwin had eight. Both were credited with five blocks. Thomas posted 26 assists and five digs. Lynch recorded six digs and Nunez had five. Nunez served for 12 points and Boone 11.