The GPS volleyball team didn’t drop a game through its first six matches of the Tennessee Tandem tournament Saturday, but the host Bruisers couldn’t manage to win one in their final match of the day.

In a matchup of defending state champions, reigning Division II champ GPS fell 2-0 to Greenbrier, which won the 2007 Class A/AA state title, in Saturday’s late final.

The Bruisers (22-4) also reached the final of the Choo-Choo tournament earlier this month before falling to Dobyns-Bennett in two games.

“It seems like we run out of gas when we get to the championship game,” GPS coach Paul Brock said. “But Greenbrier is a very good team.”

The day began with 16 teams competing in the Tandem, and the Bruisers finished it with a 6-1 record. They defeated Red Bank in the semifinals to even their season record with the Lady Lions at 2-2, while Greenbrier eliminated Ooltewah in the other semifinal.

The Lady Bobcats held on for a 25-21 win in their first game against GPS but took advantage of the Bruisers’ mistakes in cruising to a 25-15 victory in game two.

“This is preparation for us to get ready to peak at the right time,” Brock said. “We played a bunch of good games today. We just want everybody to continue to improve and hone their skills.”

Heather Parman led the Bruisers with 10 kills, nine digs and six assists in the final, while Jasmine Brown had 14 assists, seven kills and six digs and Megan Givens had 11 digs.

“Heather and Jasmine did a great job all day with their setting and with their kills,” Brock said. “And Megan Givens was everywhere today.”

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