MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Red Bank’s Lady Lions returned Friday to the Class AA high school volleyball state final that they won a year ago and found the same opponent across from them. Unfortunately for the Lady Lions, that opponent had been awaiting the chance at payback for a year.
Page defeated Red Bank 3-0 at Middle Tennessee State University and captured the title. Game scores were 25-10, 25-14, 25-20.
Jessica Enderle is in her first season as head coach of the Lady Patriots. She said her players made clear their goal as soon as she met them.
“I could tell from the very first day of practice,” Enderle said. “All the girls talked about was getting back to the state final and beating Red Bank. That’s all I heard.”
Page (47-14) had three seniors last year. One was a starter.
The Lady Lions’ situation was the opposite. Only outside hitter Kalyn Helton returned to the starting lineup this season for Red Bank (48-17). Six graduated off last year’s team, and all were part of the rotation.
“We knew we had to play near-perfect volleyball to get in there to beat them,” Red Bank coach Christel Brooks said. “They were the better team today.”
Brooks recognized her team was an underdog, but that didn’t soften things for the players as the tears flowed afterward. She saw that as a caring sign.
“The way the girls had the goal of not only wanting to get back but to win it, I’m proud of them for setting the goal high,” Brooks said. “They wanted to keep Red Bank volleyball up near the top.”
Helton is Brooks’ daughter and will play at the University of Tennessee next season. She topped the Lady Lions with 14 kills.
“It’s sad. but I’m excited for her moving on,” Brooks said of coaching her for the last time.
Brooks’ other daughter, sophomore libero Ansley Helton, led in digs with 15. Brooks also had a son, Cooper, born early in the season, so despite the finish she called 2010 a memorable year.
“It’s been a special year as a coach,” Brooks said. “You just hate to see it end on this note.”
Danielle Moore was second in kills with five, and Holly Brotton was second in digs with 12. Amy Graham and Amy Metcalf had 11 assists each for the Lady Lions.
Lady Patriots junior outside hitter Molly Locke was selected most valuable player of the championship match.