Baylor has high hopes this high school volleyball season, but the Lady Red Raiders' first goal is to be the top-seeded team from the East/Middle Region when the TSSAA Division II-AA state playoffs begin.
They could be facing their toughest league match to date Saturday when Harpeth Hall visits for an 11 a.m. match.
Baylor (28-0, 6-0), which first hosts Brentwood Academy at 4:30 p.m. Friday, is rated No. 5 nationally in the most recent MaxPreps Xcellent 25 rankings. Harpeth Hall (16-4, 2-0 going into Tuesday's match at Ensworth) has an imposing front line that features 6-foot-2 Ole Miss commitment Lauren Bars.
"They're a heavy junior and senior group that's had some good years in the past," Baylor coach Sarah Lail said of the Honey Bears. "They're big and strong. They look a lot like us."
Lail said her team's defense will be challenged to keep shots off the floor and the offense is going to have to be in synch.
"If we can win the serve-and-pass game," Lail said, "I feel confident our offense can get the job done."
Heritage volleyball is in good position
A key match in Georgia Region 6-AAAA volleyball took place Tuesday at Ridgeland, where Heritage was the big winner.
The Lady Generals improved to 21-1-1 overall after winning 29-27, 25-16 against the Lady Panthers, who came in 16-4.
Heritage's loss this season was to Northwest Whitfield, another region opponent, but it was in the Coosa Invitational. The Lady Generals won two other nonregion matches against the Lady Bruins.
The one that does count in the 6-AAAA standings is Tuesday, when both travel to Pickens.
The tie was against Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe in pool play last weekend at Coahulla Creek's tournament. The Generals beat the Lady Warriors in two sets in the championship match.
"There hasn't been one thing that we've done well every game," said Heritage coach Kari Cooper, whose team trailed by four points late in the first set against Ridgeland before coming back to win. "There's something different we always focus on depending on our opponent. We don't rely on the same thing every game.
"We keep building, and I think that's why we're still having success at this stage of the season."
Kinsey Hargis led Heritage against the Lady Panthers with seven kills and three aces. Cayla Jacob was the blocks leader with seven.
Ridgeland got 11 kills from Te'a Owens and 17 assists and five aces from Taylor Williams.
Cleveland ready to host tourney
The Cleveland Classic, a girls' soccer tournament, is set for Friday and Saturday at the Mouse Creek complex.
"Maryville is probably the favorite," new Cleveland coach Miles Christian said, "but Oakland, Soddy-Daisy, Walker Valley and Hardin Valley are teams to watch as well."
The tournament will have just one division and the winner will be determined using a point system - six for a win and three for a tie with one point for a goal (up to three) and one point for a shutout.
Christian wasn't named Cleveland's coach until a couple of weeks before the season and is still learning his club.
"You asked how we will finish in the tournament, and quite honestly I am not sure," he said. "I know there are some really good teams in this tournament."
Time for SCORE at Warner Park
The annual SCORE International Invitational softball tournament starts Friday at Warner Park.
Host Gordon Lee is one of several powerful teams entered in what is one of the final weekend tuneup events for teams with postseason aspirations.
"It's always a good field, and this year is no different," Gordon Lee coach Dana Mull said. "It will help us and the other teams get ready for the playoffs."
In addition to northwest Georgia teams Dalton, Heritage, LaFayette, Northwest Whitfield, Ringgold and others, several top programs from the Peach State - including Marist, St. Pius X, Wesleyan and Social Circle - will compete. Play begins at 4 p.m. Friday with four rounds of action and continues Saturday with five rounds.