Three local teams facing unfamiliar foes in state volleyball tournament

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

LOCAL TEAMS IN TSSAA STATE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENTS AT MURFREESBORO(All times EDT)Class ABOYD-BUCHANAN LADY BUCCANEERS (32-14)District 5 and Region 3 champions• Leaders: k-Asia Kirkman; b-Sarah Emrey; a-Kristen Reynolds; d-Katie DeLay; aces-DeLay.• Today's schedule: At Blackman vs. Loretto, 10:30 a.m. Winner plays again at 4:30; loser plays at 7:30.Class AARED BANK LIONETTES (28-25)District 6 and Region 3 champions• Leaders: k-Allison Walker, Marjorie Smith; b-Dani Usher; a-Rachel Thornbury; d-Hannah Wilson; aces-Wilson.• Today's schedule: At Stewarts Creek vs. Knoxville Catholic, 10:30 a.m. Winner plays again at 4:30; loser plays at 7:30.SIGNAL MOUNTAIN LADY EAGLES (42-10)District 7 and Region 4 champions• Leaders: k-Taelor Kellum; b-Kellum; a-Amanda Thielges; d-Aryn Sanders; aces-Kennady Collick, Hallie Hunt.• Today's schedule: At Stewarts Creek vs. Page, 1:30. Winner plays again at 6; loser plays at 9.Division II-AABAYLOR LADY RED RAIDERS (40-8)East/Middle Region champions• Leaders: k-Gabby Gray; b-Jane Wilson; a-Sarah Sumida; d-Lilly Turner; aces-Haven Bethune.• Today's schedule: At Siegel Middle vs. Father Ryan, 1:30. Loser plays again at 6; winner plays Thursday at 12:30.

It's the time of year in high school volleyball when unfamiliarity becomes a familiar word for many programs.

Recently completed TSSAA sectionals and now the state tournament, which begins today in Murfreesboro, often match teams that know little about the other. That's the case with all three local Division I teams and their opponents in today's first-round matchups.

Only Division II-AA Baylor among the local entrants will be facing a familiar foe.

Win or lose, Class AA Red Bank and Signal Mountain and Class A Boyd-Buchanan will play twice today in the double-elimination format. Baylor could avoid a second match today by winning its opener. Play will continue through Thursday and conclude with Friday's championship matches.

Red Bank coach Mandi Munn said she saw Knoxville Catholic, the Lionettes' first opponent, at team camp before the season and in the Choo Choo Tournament. But she's not dwelling on what she saw then because, like her third-seeded District 6 tournament team that has been on a roll since competing in the Middle Tennessee Classic at Franklin the last weekend of the regular season, teams can change and improve.

"We're just trying to stay focused on us and playing our game," Munn said. "We don't want the overall excitement of being at the state tournament take us out of our game."

Signal Mountain coach Jennifer Redman has taken a different approach and made contacts looking for information on Page.

"They have a good left-side hitter, they serve very aggressive and their libero is pretty good," Redman said of what she's learned of the Lady Patriots. "We've been working on two different defenses and our serve-receive. If we can get our passes to our setter, we think our hitters will be able to do their thing."

Boyd-Buchanan first-year coach Alfie Dodd found out a little about Loretto's Lady Mustangs.

"I know they've got two 6-foot middles and possibly a 5-11 or 5-10 outside (hitter)," Dodd said. "As long as we play good defense and pass well, our offense can run with the best of them."

And then there's Baylor matched up against fellow East/Middle Region opponent Father Ryan. The Lady Red Raiders were 11-1 in the region with the loss being the second time they played the Lady Irish.

"They're a very well-rounded team," Baylor coach Sarah Lail said. "They've got a big outside hitter, a good setter and a good right-side. We're very evenly matched teams. We've got to make sure our rotation puts us in the best defense position. Ball-handling, passing and our serving game are the keys. I feel confident in our offensive game."

Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him at twitter.com/KelleySmiddie.

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