Player of the Year
Sometimes it’s not all about monsterous statistics. Sometimes it’s about looking the part. Such is the case for local coaches voting Ringgold senior middle hitter Tiffany Gent as Best of Preps all-area volleyball player of the year.
Gent is a 6-footer that had 236 kills and 114 blocks for the Region 6-AAA champion Lady Tigers, who finished fifth in the state tournament.
“This year you didn’t have to know anything about volleyball to see how dominant she was at everything in the game,” Ringgold first-year coach Leslie Sawyer said. “She’s a great hitter. She’s a great player. She’s really impressive. She can do everything so fast. She’s amazing.”
Gent didn’t play volleyball until sixth grade, but now plans on playing it in college. She praised her teammates for everyone working together this season and had particular thanks for Michala Askew’s good setting.
“I didn’t think we could do any better,” Gent said. “Winning our first region was awesome.”
Coach of the Year
Under the guidance of fifth-year coach Ed Clendenen, Gordon Lee won the second championship in the program’s history when it won the Area 6-A/AA title. The Lady Trojans finished the season 27-4 with many of those school-record victories and the first three of the losses coming against Class AAA or larger schools.
Clendenen acknowledged the senior class – four players and a manager – for their leadership and productivity. Janet O’Neal served as his assistant.
“I was pretty blessed,” Clendenen said. “The girls wanted to work really hard and I think that translated to how competitive we played. We kept gaining confidence as the year went on and good things happened.”
Cassey Adams
Southeast Whitfield
outside hitter
senior
The Area 6-AAA MVP had 294 kills, 347 digs, 37 aces and 26 blocks and led in her team in serves received.
Treona Bridgeman
Bledsoe County
Outside hitter
Senior
Her career 1,064 kills, 1,050 digs and 309 blocks are school records, along with her 117 blocks in a year.
Hannah Campbell
Walker Valley
Setter
Junior
Her 595 assists in 100 games helped four Lady Mustangs teammates deliver 167 or more kills each.
Jill Johnson
Gordon Lee
Outside hitter
Senior
The All-Area 6-A/AA selection led the Chattanooga area with 442 digs and also contributed 111 kills.
Kristen Pickett
Cleveland
Setter/outside hitter
Junior
Made All-Region 3-AAA and had 347 assists, 306 kills and 436 digs with 62 aces among 384 service points.
Christy Robinson
Northwest Whitfield
Outside hitter
Senior
The All-Area 7-AAAA performer led her team with 393 kills. She also had 174 digs, 35 blocks and 17 aces.
Payton Tipton
Cleveland
Libero
Junior
She was All-District 6-AAA and had 579 service receptions, 535 digs and 53 aces for a state-sectional team.
SECOND TEAM
Michala Askew: Ringgold, setter, junior
Kelsey Blackwell: Heritage, setter, senior
Courtney Kennedy: Heritage, middle hitter, sophomore
Kelsey Kirk: Northwest Whitfield, middle hitter, senior
Michelle Morgan: Lakeview-F.O., middle hitter, senior
Alli O’Neal: Gordon Lee, outside hitter, junior
Chelsey Tabor: Sequatchie County, outside hitter, senior
TEAMS OF THE YEAR
1. Ringgold (21-15-1): The Lady Tigers won the Area 6-AAA regular-season and tournament and finished fifth in the stat tournament.
2. Gordon Lee (27-4): The Area 6 champions did not lose to an A/AA school until Calvary Day beat them in the state tournament.
3. Cleveland (26-20): The Lady Blue Raiders had an injury-plagued year but ended up runners-up in District 6-AAA and Region 3.