By DREW GRANTHUM/Sports Writer

PELHAM — On to Montgomery.

The Hope Christian Eagles moved one step closer to an ASCS volleyball state championship with a win in the opening round of the playoffs over Success Unlimited Academy of Montgomery.

The Eagles took down the Mustangs, 2-0.

The first set was all Hope, as the Eagles found themselves down 3-2 early, but used a 14-2 run to pull ahead 17-4. The Mustangs went on a 9-4 run late in the set, but it was no matter, as the Eagles hung on to take a 25-16 set win.

The second win didn’t come as easy, going back and forth with the Mustangs through the first three-quarters of the match. Up 19-18, Hope went on a 6-2 run to put away Success Unlimited, 2-0.

With the win, the Eagles will head to Montgomery Oct. 26 to take on an opponent yet to be decided in the second round of the state tournament.