Lady Lions fight back to AA title

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- The largest family within the Red Bank volleyball family had a lot to be happy about Friday.

Lady Lions coach Christel Brooks had the best seat inside Murphy Center to watch her daughter pound the clinching point in the Class AA high school state-championship match. Red Bank (56-10) added to its season school record for victories by beating Page 3-1 at Middle Tennessee State University. Game scores were 25-22, 17-25, 25-23, 25-16.

"It was an awesome feeling," junior outside hitter Kalyn Helton said of her 27th and final kill of the match. "Everybody did their part. Everybody had their head in the game, and all of our focus was on this match."

Ansley Helton is a freshman reserve on the team and also Brooks' daughter.

"Right after, everybody was jumping around and hugging each other on the court," Brooks said. "Kalyn and I had to find each other. It took a second. Then we got with my other daughter and got in a quick group hug."

Not surprisingly, Susan Thurman, the matriarch of the Red Bank family and the one whose name is synonymous with its volleyball program, was among the supporters in attendance. Now athletic director, she had guided the Lady Lions to their only previous appearance in a final in 1990.

Brooks assisted Thurman in 2007 before heading the program the next season. Brooks claims to be Thurman's "biggest fan," and from the way Thurman thrust her arms into the air when Brooks was announced as the recipient of the winning coach's plaque, the same may be true in reverse.

"I know how to pick a coach, don't I?" Thurman said. "I'm so proud of Christel and the job she has done with this team. I know there's a great future for this program. This is her team and her championship, and it's a great day for Red Bank High School."

Having a steadying group of seniors proved to be a key factor for the Lady Lions, who had lost 3-2 to Page earlier in the tournament. Courtney Lawson is one of the six, and she said maintaining a level of calmness, something they didn't do the first time, made a big difference.

Lawson totaled 12 kills, 16 digs, 26 assists and four aces in the title match. Ashley Reed added eight kills, four blocks and three digs and classmates Bailey Lyness and Becca Paturalski combined to make 41 digs.

Savannah Smith had eight kills and eight digs and fellow senior Kamron Adkins had nine kills when Red Bank beat Christ Presbyterian Academy 3-0 in the morning's losers-bracket final.

"These girls have worked so hard since the first of the summer," Brooks said. "From the very first day these girls wanted a state championship and nothing else, and they did what it took. They were so focused."