The Carrollton High School volleyball team took the first step toward the Class AAAA state tournament on Thursday night, winning a pair of games in the Area 6-AAAA Tournament at Cass.

The Lady Trojans (23-6-1) entered as the No. 2 seed and picked up an easy first-round win by defeating seventh-seeded Therrell, 25-6 and 25-0. In the second set, Lauren Sanders served all 25 points.

The second-round match was a little tougher, but the Lady Trojans prevailed against No. 3 Alexander, 25-15 and 25-22.

The two wins put Carrollton in the winner's bracket, along with River Ridge. The two teams will meet on Saturday at 9 a.m. The winner will earn a spot in the area championship game, while the loser will move to the loser's bracket.

In middle school softball action:

On Wednesday night, the Bay Springs Middle School softball team defeated Temple, 11-1, to make the semifinals before falling to Central 3-1 on Thursday.

In the win against Temple, Lydia Hughes led the way with a pair of home runs in the four-inning win. Hughes' first home run was a two-run shot in the first inning, that, along with Morgan Hunter's steal of home, gave the Lady Bobcats the early 3-0 lead.

Alena Nieto came through in the circle, allowing one run over two innings and added a home run of her own in the third inning before Hughes hit her second home run in the fourth.

Closer Kali Barbour pitched the final two innings for the save.

The Lady Bobcats couldn't keep the offense going against Central on Thursday.

Central's Emily Williams did a little bit of everything, striking out 10 and picking up an RBI single.

The Lady Lions started the scoring in the first, as Kayla Sales' RBI double scored Faith Bennett and Williams brought Sales home on an RBI single. Jaycie Benefield scored in the fourth to make it 3-0 Central.

Bay Springs got a run back in the fifth, but it wasn't enough.

Central will face Carrollton in the 'Big School' championship at Central on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.