From left, Robin Moore, Anna Maria Novelli, Sakari Pack and Janet Tate
Chattanooga State’s new Volleyball program is off to a roaring start following team tryouts last month. Making Chattanooga State history as the college’s first signees were Sakari Pack and Anna Maria Novelli from Ooltewah High School. Sidney Killingsworth, a 6’ 2” former Ooltewah Lady Owl Volleyball player, has elected to return home with a recent career path change and continue playing volleyball with Chattanooga State Community College as a Lady Tiger.
Sakari, a middle blocker/right-side hitter, started playing volleyball in middle school at Amory High School in Amory, Ms. She lettered in three seasons of volleyball and was selected as Best Offensive Player 2014, Best Overall Player 2015 and All-District Honorable Mention 2015. Upon her transfer to Ooltewah High School in 2016, Sakari lettered in one season as a senior and received Most Improved Player 2017. She played club volleyball for Scenic City Volleyball Club 2017 under coaches Jamie Nelson and Bill Weatherford where the squad won two tournaments and participated in SRVA Regionals. In 2018, Sakari went on to play club volleyball for Georgia Adrenaline 2018 under coaches Lisa Davis and Delissa Marshall, where the squad won five tournaments, finished as runner-ups twice and placed 9th at SRVA Regional play. A member of Fellow Christian Athletes and Beta Club, Sakari carries a 3.35 GPA and plans to major in nursing.
Anna Maria Novelli has played volleyball for five years. She is an active member in Beta Club, Leadership class, and the National Honor Society. Employed by Ooltewah Nursery for the past three years, she has maintained a 3.7 GPA throughout high school. She attends Bayside Baptist Church and will attend Chattanooga State this fall before transferring to UTC to further her education.
During her senior year in high school, Sidney signed with NCAA Division II, Lincoln Memorial University coached by Jenny Micheals in Harrogate, Tn. The Lady Railsplitters compete in the South Atlantic Conference. Sidney graduated in 2017 from Ooltewah High School. She played varsity all four years with the Lady Owls and was coached by Elaine Peigen. She left the program as District 5-3A Co-MVP, received the Impact Player Award, named All-District Tournament Team, All-Region Tournament Team, and selected for Times Free Press Best of Preps. During her junior year, she was a member of the District 5 -3A Champions, Region 3-3A Champions and Sectional Champions. She was a State Tournament Participant receiving the Impact Player Award, an All-District regular season honorable mention and selection for the All-District Tournament team. Sophomore year, Sidney was a District 5-3A Champion, Region 3-3A Champion with a selection for All-Tournament Team, while he freshman year, saw her as a District 5 -3A Champion, Region 3-3A Champion, and she also placed 5th in the State Championship with selection for All-District Tournament Team. Sidney participated in club/travel volleyball for seven years beginning at age 12 with Choo-Choo City Volleyball Club. Her teams had multiple accomplishments with the most memorable - placing 5th in the 17 Premier division at AAU Junior National Championships in Orlando, Fl.
Watch for more signees as the Chattanooga State Community College Volleyball program builds its team with collegiate athletes. For more information, contact Coach Janet Tate at janet.tate@chattanoogastate.edu or assistant coach Robin Moore at robin.moore@chattanoogastate.edu.
From left, Robin Moore, Sidney Killingsworth and Janet Tate