JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Tennessee High’s volleyball team lost to Science Hill for the fifth straight time Tuesday night in the Region 1-AAA championship.
It wasn’t a season-ending loss, however, and if the Vikings play like they did for the vast majority of the latest setback, there’s a chance the season won’t end Thursday in a Sweet 16 matchup at Farragut.
For that matter, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that such effort could even land Tennessee High (30-11) another crack at the Hilltoppers in the state tournament. That’s how impressively Tennessee High’s competitive spirit shined during a wildly entertaining 25-18, 30-28, 23-25, 25-19 loss to a Science Hill team that went undefeated in league play and the district tournament while compiling a 36-5 record.
“I’m very proud of our team,” Tennessee High first-year head coach Carly Williams said. “It’s still a huge accomplishment. Obviously, it’s not the outcome we wanted, but they still worked their butts off to get here and they still deserve to keep moving forward.
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“We’re playing Thursday. Obviously, a home advantage is huge at this point in the year, but yesterday we went into a similar situation as we’re going into Thursday. It’s a win-or-go-home away game, and I feel confident the girls will be able to pull that out if we work as a team.”
Tennessee High secured a sectional berth with its region semifinal win at Sevier County on Monday night, and the Vikings initially appeared content with their Sweet 16 ticket early in the first set Tuesday at Science Hill.
So Williams burned two timeouts by the time the Hilltoppers had built a 14-6 lead, and the Vikings caught fire.
“I just tried to get ’em excited,” Williams said. “We kind of walked out there a little too lax, like, ‘Okay, we’re playing Thursday. It’s fine.’ But that was not what our goal was coming into it.
“So I was just trying to motivate them to actually give it their all. Whether we win or lose I just want to know that they left it all on the court, and I do feel like they did that.”
Tennessee High’s resilience was best showcased after losing the second set despite being a point away from evening the match on three occasions. The heartbreaking 30-28 loss seemed certain to deflate the Vikings, but instead seemed to pump them up.
Tennessee High jumped out to a 6-2 and held on to force a fourth set.
“It wasn’t hard at all because they came out almost like itching for more because of that set,” Williams said. “It’s like every time we see them we keep getting better and better. It’s really just confidence though.
“It’s hard on my end because when we play any other team, they’re so relaxed and they trust each other. But for some reason when we see Science Hill, it’s like freak out. And they’re a really strong team – kudos to them – but my job as a coach is to instill confidence.”
Ashton Blair, who tallied a team-high 12 kills and 10 digs for the Vikings, said the transition from head coach Mary Johnson to Williams was essentially seamless, but there was initially plenty of anxiety.
“Whenever we found that we were getting a new coach, I was obviously devastated that Coach J wasn’t going to be coaching, because I loved having her as a coach,” Blair said. “But whenever I found out it was Coach Williams, I could not have been more grateful to have her as a coach. This whole season she’s been such an amazing coach.
“She always gives us positive feedback, but she also makes sure to hold us accountable whenever we’re making mistakes. I just love that in a coach. … That keeps you on your toes and more focused.”
Blair was focused on being a Vikings volleyball player as far back as elementary school.
“I remember growing up watching my sister, Madison Blair, play,” she said. “Growing up, that was just such a cool thing to have an older sister, someone to look up to, being a varsity player at Tennessee High School. My freshman year getting to play with her was just one of the best things I could ever ask for.”
Faith Hayes and Erin Littleton had nine and eight kills, respectively, for the Vikings. Bree Adams tallied 30 assists and 11 digs, and Addy Gentry produced 23 digs.
“I thought my setter (Adams) did great at being scrappy and getting a second touch on it,” Williams said. “That’s what I tell them, scrappiness wins volleyball matches. It doesn’t always have to be technically sound. It doesn’t always have to be pass, set, hit. We just have to keep a ball alive. Throw your body on the ground, throw an arm out, throw a foot out – do something to keep that ball up. And they did that very well, especially in the second and third sets.”
Camden Ward (15) and Karis Ward (12) combined for 27 digs.
“The Ward twins have really stepped up,” Williams said. “They go all-out. They’ve done well at being scrappy.”
Region tournament Most Valuable Player Addi Stables recorded 25 kills and 20 digs for Science Hill, which will host Maryville in the sectional on Thursday. The Hilltoppers split a pair of matches with the Rebels during the regular season.
Science Hill coach Laura Cook appeared all but thankful that Tennessee High’s season didn’t end after such an inspired performance.
“You hate for somebody to lose that one,” Cook said. “That’s one of those – I mean, it’s just both sides were playing awesome. I was not having fun, but you could just tell it was really good volleyball to watch. …
“They’re a tough team. Five times just to play – they’re just good and solid. They’ve got a lot of weapons and they’re steady and they keep it in play.”
Chelsea Blaine tallied 15 kills for Science Hill. Clara McBride (10) and Chloe Conner (eight) accounted for 18 kills.
And quarterback Ella Neal piled up 58 assists. Some of the Vikings have played travel ball with Neal.
“Me and some of my teammates like Erin Littleton, we played this past year with (Neal),” Blair said. “Ella is such an amazing player, but an amazing teammate as well. I loved playing with her. On the court and off the court, she’s great. I loved playing travel ball with her.
“Addison Stables and Chelsea Blaine – they’re such amazing players, and I have so much respect for them as well. They really fought hard tonight.”
Of course, Blair wouldn’t trade her Tennessee High teammates for anyone, and she’s confident they could have more than one match remaining together.
“If we come out hard fighting, refusing to let a ball hit the ground, swinging hard and going after everything while talking and having great communication and just having that positive mindset,” Blair said, “I feel like we have such a great shot at winning and going to state.”
All-Region 1-AAA
MVP: Addi Stables, Science Hill
Campbell Hixson, Ella Neal, Chelsea Blaine-Agett (Science Hill), Ashton Blair, Faith Hayes, Camden Ward (Tennessee High), Maddie Singleton, Kaliyah Burden (Sevier County), Shayna Williams, Jacee Smith (Cocke County)
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