SMYRNA, Tenn. – The TSSAA State Volleyball tournament didn’t start off like the Red Bank Lionettes would have liked.
It didn’t end like they wanted either as they got eliminated by the Lady Indians of Harpeth.
Red Bank ended its season at 28-27 following the three-set 25-6, 25-16 and 25-15 loss in its second match of the day.
Facing the Lady Irish from Knoxville Catholic here at Stewarts Creek High School in the first match Wednesday morning, the Lionettes never got comfortable and lost in three sets, falling by scores of 25-16, 25-13 and 25-19.
Red Bank got an ace from Allison Walker to take a 4-2 lead in the first set, but things went downhill from there as the Lady Irish seemed to have an answer for everything the Lionettes offered.
The second set was much like the first as a 5-0 Catholic lead swelled to 14-2 and it never got any closer.
The third set was the best of all, but it was a matter of too little too late for Red Bank.
A couple of blocks from Dani Usher allowed Red Bank to pull ahead at 16-12, but equally as quick, the Lady Irish knotted the score at 16. Another block by Usher knotted the score once more at 19, but the Lady Irish were more than up for the challenge as they closed out the match on a 6-0 run.
“These referees called it different than we’re used to and that hurt, but we have to make adjustments,” said Red Bank coach Mandi Munn after her team had dropped to 28-26 for the season.
“There were spurts where we played Red Bank volleyball, but there were also some spurts where we got frustrated and just didn’t play very well. It is what it is, but we have to work on the mental aspect of our game.
“We’re not finished as we just have to reset and move on. We have to get ready for our next match as we just can’t dwell on one loss,” Munn added.
Caitlyn Jenkins had five kills and 11 digs to lead the Red Bank attack while Usher finished with six blocks.
The Lionettes knew they were in for an uphill battle against the Lady Indians long before the first serve.
The Lady Indians, now 35-5 for the season, breezed to a quick 19-point win in the opening set and it really never got any closer.
Credit to the Lionettes as they never quit and kept battling to the bitter end.
“It just wasn’t our day, but that’s the way it is in sports,” said Munn after a brief post-game chat with her girls.
“Everybody at this stage is a quality opponent and good teams make you pay for every little mistake you make. Harpeth has an outstanding team and we knew that going in, but we just had to keep battling. I’m proud of them because they never quit.
“You know, lots of folks gave up on us a long time ago, but we finished in the top eight of the state, no matter how you look at it. I’m happy that we made it here for the seventh straight year. We played our best volleyball at the end and we proved a lot of people wrong, but it’s tough to make that last talk when the season is over,” she added.
Stats for the Lionettes were few and far between in the second match.
Jenkins led the way with four kills while Hannah Wilson had nine digs. Rachel Thornbury was credited with seven assists.
RED BANK STATS VS.
KNOX CATHOLIC
Marjorie Smith – 1 kill, 1 block
Caitlyn Jenkins – 5 kills, 11 digs
Rachel Thornbury – 5 assists, 2 digs
Allison Walker – 1 ace, 3 digs
Hannah Wood – 10 digs
Dani Usher – 2 kills, 6 blocks
Janie Smith – 1 kill, 1 block
Jasmine Simpson – 3 digs.
RED BANK STATS VS. HARPETH
Marjorie Smith – 2 kills, 2 digs
Caitlyn Jenkins – 4 kills, 3 digs
Rachel Thornbury – 7 assists, 1 dig
Allison Walker – 1 kill, 1 dig
Dani Usher – 2 kills, 3 blocks
Janie Smith – 3 digs
Hannah Wilson – 9 digs
Jasmine Simpson – 3 digs.
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@comcast.net)