Signal Mountain volleyball coach Jennifer Redman would like to see more consistency from her team as it progresses through this high school season. And if the Lady Eagles find that consistency, judging by the potential they showed Thursday at Notre Dame, the rest of Class AA should look out.
Even with what the coach called some "dips" in play, Signal Mountain didn't have a great deal of trouble disposing of a young Notre Dame team 3-0. Set scores were 25-19, 25-16, 25-15.
Although the Lady Irish were 2-4 coming into the match, at 1-0 they were the only other team unbeaten in District 7 besides Signal Mountain (10-3, 4-0). The regular-season champion, or top-seeded team, gets to host the district tournament.
"It was huge," Redman said of winning the match, "especially with all the fans they had here."
The Lady Irish gave those fans something to cheer about in the first and second sets. The student section was particularly vocal when Redman called time out in the first set with her team down 16-12. The Lady Eagles ended the set on a 13-3 run.
"I just told them to relax," said Redman, who has several veteran players this season. "I said, 'We've been in this situation before. Play volleyball like you know how.'"
Notre Dame's 3-2 lead in the second was not only its last lead of the set but its last of the match.
"We struggled a little bit getting passes to the setter," Lady Irish coach Robin Moore said. "We were on the defensive a lot instead of on the offensive."
Notre Dame was within 14-12 in that second set before the Lady Eagles reeled off six consecutive points coming out of another timeout. Maia Rackel and Aubrie Johnson had two kills apiece in that run, and Mackenzie Lewis added another.
"We run two setters so we have three hitters every rotation on the front row," Redman said. "I think that helps us tremendously."
The Lady Eagles again finished with a flourish, scoring nine of the last 12 points.
"I think anybody on the losing end has things to work on," Moore said. "We played very hard. We have a young team. We've just got to get more consistent. We've still got to work on our chemistry a little bit and get some of these young girls stronger at the net with their hitting. We're going to be OK.
"We're going to keep working and hopefully be where we want to be the second half of the season."
Johnson topped Signal Mountain with 11 kills, three blocks and four aces. Rackel chipped in with 10 kills. Sidney Lapinski had 20 assists and along with Nicole Terfloth and Hallie Hunt was in double figures in digs.
Tess Scobey led Notre Dame at the net with five kills. Ally Mildenberger made nine digs and Claire Vander Werf had eight. Sarah Davis led with 12 assists and three aces.
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him at twitter.com@KelleySmiddie.