Jackson County’s Kate Hughes (right) attempts a kill over Goodpasture’s Jaleigh Rogan during Thursday’s Class A elimination match at MTSU.
DII-AA: Father Ryan 3, Baylor 2
For the second time in as many days, Father Ryan has successfully dug itself out of a 2-0 hole to avoid elimination, this time topping defending champion Baylor in Thursday’s Division II-AA loser’s bracket final 3-2.
After suffering a pair of narrow defeats in the first two sets, the Lady Irish (39-10), who dropped both of their regular-season matches to region champion Baylor, strung together three straight victories to secure a 3-2 triumph and their second straight trip to the state championship.
Father Ryan coach Jinx Cockerham talks to her team in a timeout during Thursday’s winner’s bracket final against Baylor at MTSU’s Murphy Center.
Senior Lauren Dorrell finished with a match-high 32 kills for Father Ryan, which will face Briarcrest (45-4) in Friday’s 10:30 a.m. Division II-AA championship match at MTSU’s Murphy Center.
CLASS AA: Page 3, Signal Mountain 1.
Page kept its momentum rolling Thursday afternoon riding its 3-1 victory over Dyersburg into its match with Signal Mountain where the Lady Patriots knocked off Lady Eagles 3-0.
Signal Mountain came in hot, but Page was able to answer any run the Lady Eagles managed to put together taking the first two games 25-18 and 25-19.
The Lady Eagles found some grit and toughed out a 25-20 third-set win before dropping the fourth set 25-18.
Page will play Sullivan South at 4:30 p.m. with the winner playing Knoxville Catholic in Friday’s state championship match.
CLASS AAA: Brentwood 3, Siegel 0
MURFREESBORO – The two-time defending Class AAA state volleyball champions will get a chance at a third consecutive title and 11th overall.
Brentwood defeated Siegel 3-0, winning 25-20, 25-21, 25-21 Wednesday at Blackman High in a rematch of last year’s winners bracket final.
“The kids get really excited at tournament time,” Brentwood coach Barbara Campbell said. “They see that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
“They can finally realize the reward. They are determined. And they are playing like it.”
Brentwood (51-3) plays at 3 p.m. Friday at MTSU’s Murphy Center in the TSSAA Class AAA championship. Siegel (37-9) plays the Farragut-Houston winner in the losers bracket final.
Kaela Massey led the Lady Bruins with nine kills. Teammate Garrett Joiner had eight kills and three blocks. Megan Jantzi had a team-high six blocks.
Leah Poarch led Siegel with 12 kills. Teammate Asha Phillips, a Tennessee commitment, added nine. Siegel is 0-3 against Brentwood this season.
CLASS A: Goodpasture 3, Jackson Co. 0
Jackson County was eliminated from the Class 1A state volleyball tournament on Thursday morning following a 3-1 defeat to Goodpasture at MTSU’s Murphy Center.
Jackson County, which defeated Eagleville on Wednesday before falling to Concord Christian, dropped the first two sets to Goodpasture, but the Lady Blue Devils pulled to within 2-1 after securing a 25-21 third-set decision.
Goodpasture’s Jennifer Rochelle (left) attempts to block a shot from Jackson County’s Isabella Wilmoth during Thursday’s Class A elimination match at MTSU.
However, the three-time defending champion Lady Cougars sealed the match with a 25-15 fourth-set win, advancing to face Summertown (38-8) in Thursday’s 2:30 p.m. loser’s bracket semifinal.
CLASS AA: Page 3, Dyersburg 1
Page got some redemption Thursday taking down Dyersburg 3-1 in the Class AA elimination-round a year after Dyersburg ended their hopes of a state title.
The first two sets finished 25-21 with Page and Dyersburg taking one each. Page captured the third set 25-17 before falling behind in the fourth set 20-13.
Trailing by seven, Page coach Rick Hess called a timeout to get his girls on track. The Lady Patriots responded well to the timeout and came back to take the fourth game 25-23 finishing the game on a a 12-3 run.
Page moves on to face Signal Mountain at 2:30 p.m.
CLASS AA: Signal Mountain 3, Hume-Fogg 0
Hume-Fogg was unable to recreate the magic of its elimination-round win over Jackson South Side yesterday, falling to Signal Mountain 3-0 in the Class AA state tournament Thursday at Siegel High School.
The Lady Blue Raiders dropped the first set 25-15 before losing a hard-fought second set 25-22 after having the lead.
Sophie Badgett had a team-high 20 assists.
The Lady Eagles took the third and final set 25-20 sending Hume-Fogg home with a 23-24 season record.
Signal Mountain stay at Siegel to play the winner of Page vs. Dyersburg in the loser’s bracket semifinals Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
CLASS AAA: Farragut 3, Franklin 0
Franklin made its exit from the 2015 Class AAA State Volleyball Championships on Thursday morning, suffering a 3-0 defeat to Farragut — the Lady Rebels’ second loss to a Knoxville-area squad in three matches.
Franklin (30-13), which suffered a 3-1 opening-round defeat to Bearden on Wednesday before bouncing back to beat White Station 3-2 in an elimination match, dropped the first set 25-13, and the 2014 Class AAA runner-up Lady Admirals claimed a 25-17 second set win.
The Lady Rebels rebounded in set three, however, building a 23-18 advantage, but Farragut rebounded late, eventually finishing off Franklin with a 27-25 win.
Franklin’s Jodi Hill (11) and Mackenzie LePage (10) block a Farragut shot during Thursday’s Class AAA elimination match at Blackman High School.
Farragut will face the winner of Bearden vs. Houston in Thursday’s 2:30 p.m. loser’s bracket final.