The Baylor Lady Red Raiders will be making their 10th consecutive trip to the TSSAA State Volleyball Tournament after defeating Hutchison in four sets Saturday afternoon at Baylor.
The defending D-II-AA state champs improved to 34-9 with the 19-25, 25-15, 25-20 and 25-10 victory.
Baylor coach Sarah Lail rarely sees her team lose the first set of a match, much less in the quarterfinal round of the state tournament, but that early setback didn’t seem to faze Lail or her team.
“It had been so long since we’ve played and it was Baylor-McCallie week, so we may have been a little distracted, but Hutchison came ready to play,” Lail said later Saturday afternoon.
“That was a good wakeup call for us, but we settled in and played pretty well after that. We just had to get back to basics after that first set. I really didn’t have to say anything as they knew what they had to do. I know the tournament will be another great experience with four really good teams. I just hope we can bring back another one,” she referred to last year’s state title.
Ally Craig had 20 kills and eight digs to lead the Baylor attack while Denver Rogers chipped in with nine kills and nine digs. Elaine Redman finished with 43 assists and 15 digs. She also led the team with three aces. Sarah Barker was credited with four blocks.
The Chattanooga Christian Lady Chargers weren’t as fortunate as their season ended in a 3-0 sweep in Memphis at the hands of Harding Academy. Set scores were 25-20, 25-21 and 25-18.
A.J.
Johnson and Savannah Ricketts both had seven kills for CCS while Lauren Kay had 17 digs and Emily Day 13 assists.
Chattanooga Christian’s season ends at 36-11.
BAYLOR STATS:
Sarah Barker – 7 kills, 4 blocks
Elizabeth Case – 1 ace, 4 kills, 3 digs
Hayden Barton – 2 aces, 1 assist, 7 digs
Ally Craig – 20 kills, 8 digs
Denver Rogers – 1 ace, 9 kills, 9 digs
Laura Kate May – 1 assist, 7 digs
Emoree Rogers – 2 aces, 2 digs
Elaine Redman – 3 aces, 3 kills, 2 blocks, 43 assists, 15 digs
Sierra Herndon – 2 kills, 1 block.
CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN STATS:
A.J. Johnson – 7 kills, 2 aces, 4 digs
Savannah Ricketts – 7 kills, 4 digs
Emily Day – 13 assists, 2 kills, 1 ace
Rachel Kay – 9 assists, 8 digs
Grace Logterman – 3 blocks, 2 kills, 3 digs
Summer Jones – 4 kills, 10 digs, 2 aces, 1 block
Abbey Massey – 4 kills, 1 block, 1 assist, 1 dig
Lauren Kay – 17 digs, 1 ace
Lauren Day – 1 dig, 1 assist
Jolie Adams – 1 kill.
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)