Chattanooga State Volleyball Announces Signees For 2020 Season

Lady Tigers Ink Eight Standouts For Third Campaign

  • Thursday, February 27, 2020

As Chattanooga State gets set to begin its third season in volleyball, head coach Janet Tate has recruited another bumper crop of setters and spikers. Here is a look at this year’s class of Lady Tigers:

JAYDA JENKINS - RIDGELAND HIGH SCHOOL

Jayda Jenkins is from Ridgeland High School and was a two-time All-Region (6-AAAA) first teamer and has been on the past three Catoosa-Walker Dream Team first teams.

As a sophomore, she had a team-best 212 kills to go with 82 digs and 57 aces.

She increased those numbers to 267 kills, 206 digs and 68 aces as a junior, while she made it three straight years of leading the Lady Panthers in kills after 290 more this past season. She also had 211 digs and 51 aces as a senior to help get Ridgeland back to the state tournament.

 

GABBY TENCH - HIXSON HIGH SCHOOL

Gabby Tench from Hixson High School participated In volleyball all four years, softball all four years, HOSA (Health Occupational Students of America) for three years, Sport and Human Performance/Sports Medicine for two years, and participated in a HOSA Competition at the State Leadership Conference.

Tench began playing volleyball at age 7 and in addition to playing in middle and high school, she has played club volleyball for Scenic City Volleyball Club for four years as both a setter and libero.

Gabby lettered in volleyball all four years of high school. During her sophomore year, she was awarded All-Tournament in the district tournament; junior year she received the All-Tournament and All-District awards along with the Most Valuable Player award at the end-of-year banquet. As well, during her senior year, she was awarded All-Tournament, All-District, Best of Preps, and MVP of her team. Gabby ended her senior season with 1,055 recorded assists and 1,879 assists for her high school career.

 

JASLEY BROOKS - RINGGOLD HIGH SCHOOL

Jasley Brooks was part of a Ringgold senior class that won 76 matches and three straight Area 6-AAA championships over the past three seasons. She began playing volleyball at the age of 10. The outside hitter was named to the All-Area team this past fall and was a first team selection on the Catoosa County Dream Team after earning an honorable mention nod last year. As a senior, she recorded a career-high 148 kills to go with 53 aces, 60 digs and 12 blocks. She ended her time at Ringgold with 318 kills, 146 aces, 244 digs and 23 blocks.

 

ZOIE METCALF - RINGGOLD HIGH SCHOOL

Zoie Metcalf first starting playing volleyball at the age of seven and ever since the day she first picked up a ball, she’s dreamed of playing in college. It’s been an incredible four-year high school career for Metcalf.

During her freshman year, she led Ringgold in both aces and assists, she collected 103 kills, 205 digs, 654 assists and 142 aces, which led the state in the regular season during her sophomore year. As a junior, Metcalf was named the Region 6-AAA Most Valuable Player after recording 103 kills, 145 digs, 746 assists, 141 aces and 25 blocks

As a senior, Zoie once again received the 6-AAA MVP award after finishing the year with 97 kills, 133 aces, 847 assists, 71 digs and 12 blocks. She was named Co-Player of the Year by MVP School of Sports and she was an All-State pick by the Georgia Volleyball Coaches Association. In addition, Metcalf was named as The 2019 Catoosa County Volleyball Player of the Year. Ringgold won a third consecutive region title in 2019 and advanced to the second round of the Class 3A state playoffs.

 

GRACIE STIER - LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL

Gracie Stier from LaFayette High made the Catoosa-Walker Volleyball Dream Team her freshman year after recording 136 kills, 138 digs, 36 assists, 62 aces and nine blocks. She was a second team selection following a somewhat injury-plagued sophomore season that saw her finish with 136 kills, 76 aces and 230 digs.

As a junior, Stier earned Dream Team first team and second team All-Region (6-AAAA) honors with 248 kills, 220 digs and 77 aces and she followed that up this past season with 289 kills, 221 digs and 68 aces to go with 24 blocks to make first team All-Region.

During her four seasons with the Lady Ramblers, the team won one region title, went to state three times and collected 154 victories, the most for any LaFayette volleyball team in a four-year span.

 

ABBY MCBURNETT - CEDAR BLUFF HIGH SCHOOL

Cedar Bluff senior middle hitter Abby McBurnett signed a volleyball scholarship with Chattanooga State on Thursday. McBurnett posted 222 kills, 177 digs, 64 aces, 10 blocks and nine assists in helping Cedar Bluff (42-20) earn a Class 2A Final Four berth last season.

 

MORGAN TIDMORE - POWELL HIGH SCHOOL

Morgan Tidmore from Powell High School has played volleyball for 5 years and ran track for 3. She holds the school track record at Powell in the Women’s 300 Intermediate Hurdles, the Women’s 100 High Hurdles, and the 4 X 4 Relay. In addition, she has been very invested in the choral department where she runs lights and sound equipment for all musical performances. As well, she has been a member of Renaissance for 2 years. 

 

HANNAH DUTTON - CARBON HILL HIGH SCHOOL, JASPER, ALABAMA

Hannah Dutton from Carbon Hill High School in Jasper, Alabama has played varsity volleyball for three years. In that time, her team were 2017 and 2018 Regional Champs, 2017 and 2018 County Champs, 2017, 2018, and 2019 Area Champs, 2017 AHSAA Final Four, 2018 AHSAA 3-A State Runner Up, and 2019 AHSAA Elite Eight.

In 2018, Dutton received Eagle Elite honorable mention and AHSAA All State Second Team. In 2019, she received the All-County Award, All-Area Award, and the Defensive Award for having the most digs this season, finishing with 582. 

While playing volleyball, Hannah has also been a part of many clubs such as the fellowship of Christian Athletes, Beta club, National Honor Society Secretary, Key Club President, and Anchor Club. She has continually been on “A” and “B” Honor Roll. During her sophomore and junior year, she received an award for having the highest average in History 201 and 202. Also during her junior year, she was chosen to Alabama Girls State. 

(Email Assistant Sports Editor Dennis Norwood at dennisnorwood56@gmail.com)

 

 

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