Bucs get to state 'A' final

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Boyd-Buchanan hasn't lost a game to its region rival Signal Mountain, but the Lady Eagles are making the task increasingly tougher.

The Lady Bucs earned another 3-0 victory Thursday in the winners-bracket final of the Class A high school state volleyball tournament at Middle Tennessee State University.

The game scores were 25-20, 28-26, 28-26.

"We didn't make it easy on ourselves, and Signal Mountain didn't make it easy on us, either," Boyd-Buchanan coach Amber Nolen said. "They really fought hard for those points. They really moved the ball well and were swinging agressive.

"They've been our toughest competition in our region."

Boyd-Buchanan (38-10) is in today's championship match scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. EDT. Signal Mountain (40-11) plays Loretto in the losers-bracket final at 10 a.m.

Red Bank eliminated Chattanooga Christian from the Class AA tournament with a 3-0 win. The Lady Lions will play Christ Presbyterian Academy in the losers-bracket final.

Baylor (30-12) played Father Ryan in a late match in the losers-bracket final of the Division II-AA tournament. St. Benedict is in today's 1 p.m. final

Rachel Harper had 22 kills in Boyd-Buchanan's victory over the Lady Eagles, and her 26 digs were second only to Ashley Hixson's 31. Stephanie Silvers had 15 kills and 17 digs and Erica Morris set 45 assists.

The match between Red Bank (54-10) and CCS (31-15) was the third of the day for each. After winning the first two games, the Lady Lions lost 3-2 to Page in their first match of the day. The deciding game ended up 17-15.

"We had match point a couple of times in that last game," Red Bank coach Christel Helton said. "They executed at the end and we didn't. It's who wins the last match that counts. Hopefully we'll get another chance at them."