E'Lisa Ladson earned Region 7-6A Volleyball Coach of the Year after leading Riverwood to a 29-win season.
Riverwood Athletics announced the honor on Oct. 26. Ladson, known around the program as "Coach E," guided a squad that claimed the No. 1 seed in the Region 7-6A tournament and hosted the bracket at Riverwood.
The Raiders finished the 2026-27 season 29-10 overall and 5-1 in region play, according to MaxPreps. As the top seed, Riverwood received a first-round bye in the region tournament. The Raiders then fell to Milton 3-0 in the semifinal on Oct. 7.
That loss did not end the season. Riverwood still qualified for the GHSA Class AAAAAA state playoffs and hosted Newnan in the first round on Oct. 17, winning 3-2. The Raiders then traveled to Woodward Academy for a second-round matchup on Oct. 20, where their season ended in a 3-0 loss to the War Eagles.
Ladson's coaching honor arrived alongside a wave of individual recognition for her players. Senior Sasha Francis, a Yale commit, was named Region 7-6A Player of the Year, according to the school's athletics site.
Five additional Raiders earned All-Region honors. Syler Lewis was named to the First Team. Laney Hronchek made Second Team. Taylor Donald, Estella Nguyen and Kendall Saunders received Honorable Mention.
Before the region tournament, Ladson rallied the Riverwood community in a message posted on the school's athletics page. "We have earned the #1 seed, but now it's time to defend our HOME COURT and go get that REGION CHAMPIONSHIP!" she wrote, urging fans to pack the stands.
Between Ladson's Coach of the Year award, Francis's Player of the Year honor and five All-Region selections, seven individual recognitions came out of one Riverwood roster. The Raiders' season ended with the Oct. 20 loss at Woodward Academy.
