Nolensville 3 Anderson County 0 (Finals, Winners Bracket)
For the second season in a row, the Nolensville High School volleyball team will be playing for the Class AA state championship. The Lady Knights advanced to the state final with a 25-13, 25-18, 25-15 win over Anderson County early Thursday. Nolensville will have to face the Lady Mavericks again for the championship Frida after Anderson County won the consolation bracket final 25-17, 32-30, 25-17 over Murfreesboro Central for a second shot at the Lady Knights with the state title in the balance. “One thing we always say in the huddle is this is the most important game of the season and that goes on and on every single one,” Nolensville junior Avery Young said. “Today was the most important game of the season, but now tomorrow is the most important game overall.” Friday's championship match will shift the Class AA tournament to Siegel High School for the final at 1 p.m. All prior matches were played at Blackman High School. Young recorded four kills and matched a team-high with 11 digs Thursday in the winner’s bracket final against Anderson County. Jazmyn Jenkins continued her strong state showing with nine kills along with Charley Fulton, while Lauren Starcke matched Young with 11 digs. Nolensville coach Brett Young, Avery’s dad, said he was proud of how his team started the match strong – a growing theme for the Lady Knights who have won six consecutive matches in straight sets and 11 of their last 12. “We were able to set the tone early,” coach Young said. “They’re a very good team with a couple great hitters, but we were able to get out there and grab that first set and grab the momentum – that always puts you in a great spot.” Avery Young’s ace early in the first set gave the Lady Knights a 7-2 lead. That advantage stretched to nine at 18-9 when Maymie Guthrie added another service ace. Guthrie, another junior, said her team is not only determined, but fortunate to be playing at all and they aren't taking that for granted. “We’re all super lucky to even be here because so many teams have faced canceled seasons entirely,” she said. “We’ve just been taking this one step at a time and now we’re really lucky that we get to continue our season.” “We’re here for our seniors,” added Caroline Johnston, who combined with Avery Patton to dish out 31 assists Thursday. “They are great leaders and all have been working so hard to be back here so it’ll be really cool if we can pull this off two years in a row.” Anderson County rode some strong hits from Morgan McMurray and Erin Cantrell to keep pace with Nolensville in the second set. The Lady Mavericks pulled even at 8-8 when Bailey Wilder smacked a kill off the Lady Knights block. Nolensville regrouped quickly and scored the next seven points capped by a Jenkins kill from the middle on a feed from Johnston. “We’ve been able to go on one or two of those five-, six-, seven-point runs each match it seems,” coach Young said. “This is a sport of runs and when you can go on a couple of those and limit the other team that can be the difference.” Anderson County didn’t quite go away in the second set despite the big run and instead pulled within 19-15 on a Lady Knights hitting error. After a Nolensville timeout, the two teams traded points before Johnston faked a set and placed a kill with a flip over the net. The Lady Knights closed on a 5-2 spurt to take the set, capped by a thundering hit from Jenkins in the middle. Caymin Ladd recorded a couple of her six kills early in the third set as Nolensville broke out for a quick 8-4 lead. Maggie Rickert followed with back-to-back kills and the Lady Knights picked up momentum. Their lead never dipped below six the rest of the way. “This one just meant a lot for all of us,” said Rickert, who burst onto the state stage last year as a freshman with several big plays in the championship win over Portland. “We want to put this together one last time for the seniors.” Nolensville boasts five seniors: Jenkins, Fulton, Starcke, Patton and Ladd. All add to the depth and balance for the Lady Knights and have guided Nolensville into the upper echelon of Tennessee volleyball. Nolensville split with both Brentwood and Siegel in the regular season and those two will play for the Class AAA championship later Friday. “This is a phenomenal group of kids we have and I can’t tell you how fortunate I am to be able to coach them,” coach Young said. “It’s hard to even talk about this season without mentioning all the different things we’ve had – and not just us, but everyone – has had to deal with in just life in general.“But, we’ve always felt like when we are able to step on the volleyball court, it kind of gets you away from all that even for a little bit. We’ll be back tomorrow and be ready to go again.”
2020 Class AA State Volleyball Tournament
Friday’s Schedule
1 p.m. – Nolensville (37-4) vs. Anderson County (35-8), State Championship (at Siegel High School)
Thursday’s Results
Greeneville def. Crockett County, 15-25, 25-12, 25-19, 25-20, loser out
Murfreesboro Central def. East Hamilton, 25-17, 25-18, 25-17, loser out
Nolensville def. Anderson County, 25-13, 25-18, 25-15
Murfreesboro Central def. Greeneville, 28-26, 25-17, 25-23, loser out
Anderson County def. Murfreesboro Central, 25-17, 32-30, 25-17, loser out
Wednesday’s Results
Anderson County def. Murfreesboro Central, 22-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-23
Nolensville def. Crockett County, 25-12, 25-10, 25-14
Greeneville def. Covington, 25-19, 25-12, 25-18, loser out
East Hamilton def. Signal Mountain, 25-13, 25-23, 25-19, loser out
Tuesday’s Results
Anderson County def. Greeneville, 25-20, 25-20, 25-16
Murfreesboro Central vs. Covington, 25-23, 25-9, 25-12
Nolensville def. Signal Mountain, 25-8, 25-8, 25-17
Crocket County def. East Hamilton, 20-25, 25-14, 25-15, 25-21
Nolensville 3 Crockett County 0 (Semifinals)
Balance has been one of the biggest strengths for the Nolensville High School volleyball team all season and that’s proved tough for the first two Class AA state tournament opponents to handle. The Lady Knights have swept past consecutive opponents Tuesday and Wednesday to move into the championship semifinals on their quest to repeat as champs in just their second appearance on the state stage. “We’ve really got five hitters in the lineup at any given time,” Nolensville coach Brett Young said. “Any of them can take over the game at any time and when you have setters that appreciate the fact that they can spread the ball around and use that misdirection, teams have trouble defending against us.” Nolensville opened the state tournament with a 25-8, 25-8, 25-17 over Signal Mountain on Tuesday. They handed Crockett County just its second loss of the year on Wednesday with a 25-12, 25-10, 25-14 victory. The Lady Knights will play Anderson County at 2:30 p.m. at Blackman High School with the winner advancing to the state championship match. “We just have to keep playing our game,” said Nolensville senior Jazmyn Jenkins, who collected nine kills Wednesday. “Whenever we work as a team and show our strength to be so tough from so many different directions, it always pays off.” “I think honestly, we are just excited to be here and have the opportunity to finish what we started,” added fellow senior and middle Caymin Ladd. “We’re just very blessed to be here as a team and are trying to get the most out of every single moment.” Jenkins and Ladd combined for seven blocks Tuesday. Both had their moments as high-flying hitters Wednesday as well against an undersized Crockett County team. Maggie Rickert added nine kills for Nolensville, while Avery Young tacked on six more. Lauren Starcke anchored the defense with 24 digs and Charley Fulton had another all-around performance with five kills, nine digs and three aces in the second-round win. Jenkins provided an early exclamation point as the two teams felt one another out in the opening set. The senior elevated on the right side and smashed a kill through the Crockett County block for a 9-5 advantage and a fourth straight Lady Knights point. That lead eventually stretched to six at 14-8 on a Fulton kill and never dipped lower the rest of the way. Avery Patton set 16 assists Wednesday and Caroline Johnston added 11 more. Patton, a senior, said her confidence in all her hitters carries through in the Nolensville offense. “Whenever somebody is on, I will keep feeding them the ball, but I always know that I have other options and that gives me a lot of confidence,” Patton said. “I’m never concerned about where to place it.” She flipped a high ball over her head as Jenkins slid around her on a sweep to the right pin for the final kill of the first set. Nolensville cruised in the second with Rickert and Young providing much of the damage, while Jenkins reemerged in the third as primary hitter early. Nolensville scored the first six points in the third and stayed in control the whole way through. “We had some great rotations today and both Jazmyn and Caymin played great,” coach Young said. “We’re excited to be here. Winning these first two gives you a bit of breathing room and we want to keep on rolling.” The winner of Thursday’s championship semifinal at Blackman High School will advance to Friday’s championship match at 1 p.m. at Siegel High School. The loser of Thursday’s match will play again later that night in the consolation final for a second shot at reaching the championship. Anderson County advanced in the double elimination tournament with a three-set sweep of Greeneville on Tuesday and a narrow 22-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-23 win over Murfreesboro Central Wednesday.
2020 Class AA State Volleyball Tournament
All matches at Blackman High School
Thursday’s Schedule
9:30 a.m. – Crockett County (29-2) vs. Greeneville (27-6), loser out
12 p.m. – Murfreesboro Central (29-12) vs. East Hamilton (18-12), loser out
2:30 p.m. – Nolensville (36-4) vs. Anderson County (34-7)
5 p.m. – Crockett County-Greeneville winner vs. Murfreesboro Central-East Hamilton winner
7:30 p.m. – Nolensville-Anderson County loser vs. 5 p.m. winner, loser out
Wednesday’s Results
Anderson County def. Murfreesboro Central, 22-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-23
Nolensville def. Crockett County, 25-12, 25-10, 25-14
Greeneville def. Covington, 25-19, 25-12, 25-18, loser out
East Hamilton def. Signal Mountain, 25-13, 25-23, 25-19, loser out
Tuesday’s Results
Anderson County def. Greeneville, 25-20, 25-20, 25-16
Murfreesboro Central vs. Covington, 25-23, 25-9, 25-12
Nolensville def. Signal Mountain, 25-8, 25-8, 25-17
Crocket County def. East Hamilton, 20-25, 25-14, 25-15, 25-21
Nolensville 3 Signal Mountain 0 (1st Round)
Last season the Nolensville High School volleyball team entered the state tournament as the unknown newcomer and was almost overlooked by most. This year, the Lady Knights are the favorite and they quickly proved why. Nolensville, the defending Class AA champions, raced past Signal Mountain 25-8, 25-8, 25-17 to cruise into the second round and take another step toward defending their first state championship. Senior Lauren Starcke said her and her teammates felt the pressure initially, but it didn’t really show to most Tuesday at Blackman High School – the host for the Class AA initial rounds. Nolensville’s state jitters subsided quickly as the Lady Knights built a steady lead after trading the first serval points with Signal Mountain. A somewhat methodically attack ensued and carried through the rest of the match. “I think we do well under pressure actually,” said Starcke, who collected 11 digs. “I mean last year we lost this first match to Portland and had to battle back up and there was pressure the entire time, so I think this year we are kind of used to it. “We came in ready. And this feels more like home ground.” That’s not good news for the rest of Class AA field. The Lady Knights have one goal in mind and that’s another title. “We’re a force to be reckoned with,” said junior Avery Young, who finished with nine kills and four digs for Nolensville. “We’ve worked so hard to get here and we know what it takes,” senior Charley Fulton added. “It’s pretty surreal, but this just shows you that no matter where you come from, if you can come together, you can move forward and be awesome.” All three Lady Knights played key roles last season in the state championship run for the young team, which returned everyone this season. This year, the Lady Knights boast five seniors including District 9-AA MVP Starcke and Region 5-AA MVP Fulton. Fellow seniors Caymin Ladd (4 kills, 2 blocks), Jazmyn Jenkins (5 blocks) and setter Avery Patton all had their moments Tuesday as well. “Our five seniors do such a great job of leading us, and you know, it’s always extra nice when they’re some of the best players on the court at any given time as well,” Nolensville coach Brett Young said. “That’s an added bonus.” After recording a 25-8 win in the first set, Nolensville scored the first six points of the second, capped by a Maggie Rickert slam from the left side. Rickert closed with six kills, while Fulton (11 kills) led the Lady Knights balanced attack. “We’re not sneaking up on anybody anymore,” coach Young said. “I just think we got off to great start and it carried right on through. We were ultra solid across the board.” The Lady Knights will play Crockett County at 12 p.m. Wednesday at Blackman. Crockett County defeated East Hamilton 20-25, 25-14, 25-15, 25-21.Fulton said the Lady Knights will try to keep their storied season going and stay focused on their end goal: to repeat as champions. “We know we can play well and when we do, nobody can really beat us,” the senior said. “We just need to keep our mindset that we had coming into today and really through the season that we can be the best.” Anderson County and Murfreesboro Central Magnet will face off in the other winner’s bracket semifinal at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Anderson County defeated Greeneville 25-20, 25-20, 25-16, while Murfreesboro Central claimed a 25-23, 25-9, 25-12 win over Covington. Watch for continued coverage of the state volleyball tournament online. The Brentwood girls advanced in Class AAA, while the Battle Ground Academy girls fell in straight sets in back-to-back matches Tuesday for an early exit from the Division II-A tournament.
2020 Class AA State Volleyball Tournament
All matches at Blackman High School
Tuesday’s Results
Anderson County def. Greeneville, 25-20, 25-20, 25-16
Murfreesboro Central vs. Covington, 25-23, 25-9, 25-12
Nolensville def. Signal Mountain, 25-8, 25-8, 25-17
Crocket County def. East Hamilton, 20-25, 25-14, 25-15, 25-21
Wednesday’s Schedule
9:30 a.m. – Anderson County (33-7) vs. Murfreesboro Central (29-11)
12 p.m. – Nolensville (35-4) vs. Crockett County (29-1)
2:30 p.m. – Greeneville (26-6) vs. Covington (13-5), loser out
5 p.m. – East Hamilton (17-12) vs. Signal Mountain (18-17), loser out
Source: Williamson Herald
