The 2006 high school volleyball season opened Monday with two of the city's best teams -- AAA Red Bank and A-AA Hixson -- squaring off at the Hixson gym.

With Bailee Chastain leading the way, Red Bank earned a 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-23) victory.

Chastain, a senior who helped lead Red Bank to the state tournament last year, finished with eight kills, 15 service points and 14 aces.

Red Bank lost six players off last year's team, including all-state standout Emily Lawson, who signed with Berry.

"We lost six good ones,'' Red Bank coach Susan Thurman said. "We started a ninth-grader and two 10th-graders today with no varsity experience They were really nervous, but they did fine.''

Courtney Lawson, Emily's sister, missed the game with a sprained ankle.

Erica Shropshire, a junior who transferred from Nashville McGavock, had six kills.

"She will help take up some of the slack from losing Emily,'' Thurman said. "She's a great jumper, but still needs to work on some fundamentals.''

Christine Britt added seven kills for the Lady Lions, who play host to East Ridge on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Kayla Frisbee also had six kills.

"Hixson is a scrappy bunch,'' Thurman said. "They don't have a super-star, but they fight for every ball. They played well.''

Hixson coach Janet Tate was pleased with the play of sophomore Taylor Lanham, who had nine kills, one block and was 8-for-8 serving.

"She had an awesome night,'' Tate said.

Tate also was pleased with the play of Holly Satterfield, who had four aces, three kills, three blocks and was 5-of-7 serving.

We only lost one senior (Gena Thurston), so we've got a good group back,'' Tate said. "They are really working hard. We had a good effort last weekend at Brentwood.

"These girls don't quit and I really like that. We didn't win some of the long rallies tonight, but our play wasn't bad. It was a good effort.''

Hixson led in the third game, 22-19, before Red Bank rallied. The Lady Lions tied the match at 23, and then got a kill from Britt before closing out the match.

STATISTICS

Red Bank

Melanie Gibson (11 service points, 9 digs); Erica Shropshire (6 kills); Haley Blackburn (10 service points, 9 assists); Erin Massman (10 service points, 16 digs); Bailey Lyness (15 service points, 11 digs); Kayla Frisbee (6 kills); Christine Britt (7 kills); Bailee Chastain (8 kills, 15 service points, 14 assists).

Hixson

Holly Satterfield (3 blocks, 5-of-7 serving, 4 aces, 3 kills); Chelsea Burroughs (4 kills, 2 blocks, 9 service points); Taylor Lanham (8-for-8 serving, 9 kills, 1 block); Jessica Gravitt (3 blocks).

(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)