East Ridge coach Catherine Neely has guided teams to the TSSAA state volleyball tournament more than 20 times in her illustrious career. And after the Lady Pioneers defeated host Chattanooga Christian 3-2 in a Class AA sectional Thursday, they’re taking a losing record with them, but they’re going again.
East Ridge (23-32) seized momentum at the end of the fourth game when they tied the match, won the first seven points in the deciding game and came away winning 20-25, 25-20, 18-25, 25-22, 15-13.
Those at the sectional at Red Bank were treated to the Kalyn Helton show in the first game and the Lady Lions rolled to a 3-0 victory over Notre Dame. Game scores were 25-12, 25-13, 25-12.
The state tournament is next Wednesday through Friday at Murfreesboro.
The tears were uncontrollable throughout Chattanooga Christian’s gymnasium Thursday. The Lady Chargers had won their district and region tournaments and wanted badly to earn a return trip to the state tournament, and the emotion began showing soon after a Lady Charger was called for two hits, resulting in the final point.
On the other side, those clad in East Ridge orange began hugging each other, hugging loved ones and weeping tears of joy.
“For the last two days I stayed up until 3 o’clock in the morning studying film and making plans,” East Ridge coach Catherine Neely said. “I changed the rotation and worked the fire out of them. We had a good practice today and I had them watch film. The thing was I wanted to make them believe in themselves, and apparently it worked.”
Because the Lady Pioneers have not been to the state tournament since winning a title in 2005, Neely was particularly happy for her four seniors.
“I thought they just played their hearts out all year,” Neely said of her players.
Daisha Jackson led in kills with 17. Haven Carter was the pace-setter with 33 assists and 22 digs.
Red Bank (47-15), which was state champion last year, set Helton for the first point, and the Lady Lions’ final five points of the first game were four of her 13 kills to that point and one of her two blocks.
“It’s no secret she’s our gun,” said Red Bank coach Christel Brooks, Helton’s mother. “Everybody stepped up. You’ve got to have the pass and the set to get the hit. It gives everybody confidence when you can jump out early.”
Fittingly, the final point of the match was the last of Helton’s 25 kills. Abby Graham totaled 20 assists and Amy Metcalf, who made the last set, finished with 19.
“She told me she was going to do that,” Helton said. “She said, ‘You better hit it harder than you have in your life.’ It felt awesome. We’ve met another goal.”