RICHMOND HILL — The Effingham County Lady Rebels pushed Richmond Hill hard Saturday but couldn’t knock their rival from its perch atop the Region 2-AAAAAA volleyball standings.

The Lady Wildcats (18-10) needed four sets to dispatch the Lady Rebels (13-21) in the championship game of the region tournament, winning 25-18, 20-25, 25-13 and 25-18. 

Interim head coach Maddie Weiss wasn’t the least bit displeased with Effingham County’s performance. 

“The girls gave 110 percent,” she said. “I’m not upset. They did some good things.”

Weiss is a community coach who assumed the lead role after Brittany Lein had a baby last month. Weiss played for Lein, winning Region 2-AAAAAA Player of the Year honors in 2016. She believes Lein would have been proud of how the Lady Rebels played Saturday.

“I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to coach these girls everyday," Weiss said.

Sara Lindsay, Madeline Neal, Cailin Pritchard and Kinley Tucker held their ground at the net but the Lady Wildcats eventually pulled away.

The Lady Rebels, who hammered Bradwell Institute in the first round at home Thursday and Glynn Academy in the second round Saturday, will host Evans in the first round of the Class AAAAAA playoffs at 5 p.m. Thursday.

South Effingham’s season came to an end at Effingham County on Thursday with a region tourney loss to Statesboro.