photo by Dennis Norwood/File Photos
As the end of July is upon us and August and the start of school is but days away, thoughts are beginning to seriously turn towards prep sports. First up on the calendar is the 34th Annual Choo Choo Play Day for volleyball. The event gives coaches an opportunity to try out their squads before the season kicks off on August 16th.
This event, started by Susan Thurman and the late Catherine Neely, is set for Saturday, July 31, and will take place at Red Bank and Ooltewah High Schools with 14 teams participating in a round-robin format.
The action will cover three courts each at both locations and will feature teams from inside and out of Chattanooga. Sets begin at 9:00 a.m. with the last matches set for 3 p.m. A total of 21 hour-long match-ups will be played. The complete schedule can be found under Prep Schedules here in Prep Sports.
Kicking off the action at the Lady Lions gym will be Boyd Buchanan and Lookout valley on court one, while on court two host Red Bank takes on the Chattanooga Patriots and Rhea Co. plays Class A powerhouse Sale Creek. Davidson will join the mix of these teams in the 10 o’clock hour.
Silverdale faces Hixson, Ooltewah takes on Livingston and Soddy Daisy plays Grundy Co. to start the action at the Lady Owls’ Nest. Bradley jumps into the action in the following rounds of play.
According to Ooltewah head coach Elaine Peigen. the Choo Choo Classic, one of the top volleyball tournaments in the area, is set for September 3rd and 4th
(Email Dennis Norwood at dennisnorwood56@gmail.com; follow him on Twitter at @noogasportsdude).