Kennedy Fager and Allison Walden (left to right) of East Hamilton High School jump for a block against Red Bank High School at East Hamilton in Ooltewah on Thursday. Red Bank won the game 3-0.Not just yet, Lady Hurricanes.
It was as though that was Red Bank’s message in a 3-0 high school volleyball victory Thursday night at East Hamilton. Game scores were 25-21, 25-19, 25-17.
The Lady Lions dropped down to Class AA three years ago and were state champions in 2009 and runners-up last year. Thursday, they clinched at least a tie for the District 6 crown, which they also won each of the last two seasons.
“They didn’t want to relinquish that title,” Red Bank coach Christel Brooks said after her team improved to 22-9 and 6-0 in the district. “They know the bar is up there. They want to keep it up there.”
East Hamilton (22-4, 3-1) came in with the more attractive overall record, but the upstart Lady Hurricanes’ lack of big-match experience showed. Katie Loftin and Elizabeth Behrend are the program’s first seniors.