East Hamilton senior Katie Loftin signed scholarship papers Wednesday to continue her volleyball career at NCAA Division I member Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, N.C.

Gardner-Webb's coach is Leo Sayles, who previously was successful at Bryan College.

Loftin was a libero throughout her three-year East Hamilton career under coach Kristy Lenoir, and she was the region most valuable player, an all-state selection and a Best of Preps second-team choice last fall.

"We made history by being the first East Hamilton volleyball team to make it to the state tournament, and we finished fifth there," Loftin said proudly.

She also plays for the Choo Choo City club program and will join club teammate Callie Hilderbrand from Signal Mountain at Gardner-Webb. Hildebrand signed in November.

CCS event kicks off

The ninth annual Chattanooga Christian soccer tournament is set to begin today, albeit with some changes.

After the brackets for the eight-team field were set, Shelbyville Central was forced to drop out Tuesday, causing CCS coach Shawn Brower to scramble for another team. He wasn't able to, so the schedule had to be amended.

CCS, Southeast Whitfield and Randolph (Ala.) each will play only two games, which disqualifies them from winning the tournament. There will be a point system to determine the champion, with three points awarded for a win and one for a tie.

Ooltewah, Science Hill, Greeneville and Christ Presbyterian Academy are eligible to win the title.

Six of the seven teams are ranked in their respective classifications, headed by second-ranked Ooltewah and Southeast Whitfield in Tennessee and Georgia Class AAA polls.

CCS is third and Greeneville seventh in A/AA in Tennessee, while Science Hill is eighth in AAA. Randolph is fifth in Alabama's 1A-4A.

"We still ended up with a great field," Brower said. "There are going to be some great matches over the two days."

Hixson softball as usual

Hixson hosted East Hamilton in a District 6-AA softball game Thursday night. It had been planned as a "spirit night" but instead was a normal game in every sense, including full admission for all spectators, according to Hixson athletic director Brian Bray.

Some possible aspects of the "spirit night" would have been in violation of TSSAA rules, so Bray, the school administration and the softball coaches stopped that before it happened. Calling off the event prevented violations, TSSAA executive director Mr. Bernard Childress told Bray.

'Decade with Coach D'

A night of memories, celebrating a decade of Red Bank football under coach Tim Daniels, is scheduled for 6:30-9 p.m. on May 5 at Red Bank Baptist Church (Steelman Center).

Daniels, who directed the Lions to a half-dozen district championships, resigned after last season.