Ooltewah team returns to state

Last year Ooltewah's volleyball season ended earlier than the Lady Owls wanted, so Libby Peigen came into her senior season with a strong desire to have her team back in the high school state tournament. Thursday, when it counted, she played like it.

Peigen provided 14 digs from the back row and 12 kills from the front‚ each tying a team high‚ and sparked the Lady Owls past Riverdale 3-0 in a Class AAA sectional at Ooltewah. The game scores were 25-15, 25-16, 25-19.

The state tournament is Wednesday through Friday in Murfreesboro.

Playing for her mother, coach Elaine Peigen, made the moment even more special for Libby. So did finishing off match point with one of her kills.

"We went to the state tournament my first two years," Libby said. "We weren't at state last year. Getting that last point was so sweet."

The Lady Owls were in control from the start and never trailed in either of the first two games. Coach Peigen said one of the key factors was blocking‚ something they worked on in practice in trying to neutralize Riverdale's hitters. Alex Martin scored with six blocks, Audra Morgan totaled four and Morgan Sullivan and Kianna Delaney had three each.

"I also thought the first two games we service-received well," the coach said. "That allowed us to be able to move the ball around."

Ooltewah (44-12) was down 17-14 in the third game when its big hitter, Region 3 tournament MVP Martin, put down one of her 12 kills and went to server.

Although the Lady Warriors likely were glad to see her off the front row, it didn't work out in their favor. Martin served for seven consecutive points, including one of her two aces in the match and one of her two kills from the back row in the game. She finished the night with 16 service points.

"Alex Martin did a great job serving," Coach Peigen said. "She had been missing some serves lately. She has a good serve when she gets it in."

Kennisha Cook had 19 assists for the Lady Owls, and Loren Bennett had 15. Sullivan equaled Peigen in digs.

"We really came together as a team," Libby said. "I think this can help with momentum going into the tournament, We just have to have confidence in ourselves and set our goals high."

* Class AA: Kalyn Helton had 12 kills, two aces and eight digs to help Red Bank defeat Notre Dame 3-0.

Chattanooga Christian also advanced to the state tournament with a 3-1 win over East Ridge. Alex Yandel had seven kills, six blocks and two aces in the Lady Chargers' win.

* Class A: Callie Hildebrand's 15 kills and nine digs and Andi Abbajay's eight kills and eight digs led Signal Mountain's 3-1 win over Jackson County.