AIKEN --- When Aiken volleyball coach Malynda Young told her team at the beginning of the year that she believed it could win the South Carolina Class AAAA Lower State title, senior Kiki Hennessey decided to take it one step further.

"If we're going to go for it, we're going to go for it all," the All-State outside hitter said, suggesting the Lady Hornets had what it takes to win the entire state.

That proclamation became the motto for a team that went 23-2 during the regular season and swept the Summerville Green Wave 25-22, 25-17, 25-12 in the first round of the state playoffs on Tuesday night.

"I'm extremely confident in our team right now," Hennessey said. "I feel like we can beat anyone with the team that we have right now."

The third-ranked Lady Hornets (24-2) didn't show that confidence early in the match.

Tentative play led to Aiken falling behind 19-15 in the first game before roaring back on the strength of a 10-3 run.

The Green Wave came out strong in the second game, taking a 12-8 lead.

The Lady Hornets answered again, hitting their stride during a 17-5 run that seemed to deflate Summerville (11-12), the third seed from Region 8-AAAA.

Aiken, the No. 2 seed from Region 5-AAAA, made quick work of Summerville in the third set, a 13-point win.

"They wouldn't quit. They were having a slow night getting started but they didn't quit. They kept with it, they stuck with it and by golly, they started picking up all kinds of points," Young said.

Many of those points were picked up by the strong around the net by Hennessey, Jessica Ray, Jenni Law and Amanda Joyce. Hennessey finished with 10 kills; Ray had nine.

Aiken will play at top-seeded Wando on Thursday. Wando beat West Florence 3-0 on Tuesday night.

Wando defeated the Lady Hornets in the state quarterfinals last season.