There are people across Tennessee who have no idea where Sale Creek is. But those with an interest in Class A volleyball likely have come to know who Sale Creek’s Lady Panthers are.
Sale Creek is located in the northernmost part of Hamilton County. And its high school volleyball team could be found all season at the northernmost part of District 6.
The Lady Panthers not only won their district regular season and tournament, but to date they have not lost a set to a district opponent. Now they move on to the Region 3 tournament hosted by District 5 champion Grace Academy.
Sale Creek is 36-5 and tournament-tested.
“If they didn’t know us before, they know us now,” said Sale Creek’s Ariana Smith, who along with Karah Carson are the team’s seniors. “We’ve beaten a lot of bigger schools.”
The Lady Panthers will play District 5 runner-up Silverdale Baptist Academy (17-16) in Monday’s second semifinal at 7 p.m. District 6 runner-up Lookout Valley (13-19) plays Grace (29-9) at 6 in the other.
The winners play Tuesday at 6 for the championship. Region finalists move on to sectionals, where winners advance to the state tournament.
Smith began playing volleyball in fifth grade. She came to Sale Creek in eighth grade and thought trying out for the volleyball team would be a good way to introduce herself to new schoolmates.
Smith has since blossomed into a fierce competitor who was chosen most valuable player in the district tournament.
“She’s leading with her game,” Sale Creek coach Debbie Hill said. “She’s the experience. She has the court knowledge. She’s the coach on the court. She tends to step up when we need her the most.”
Kills is the only statistical category in which Smith leads the team, but it’s not her only way of leading.
“I feel like I’m a solid leader on the team,” Smith said. “I’ve worked hard to be. I’m a senior. That’s my position on the team.”
Junior Bailey Nelson is the team leader in assists and aces, and classmate Morgan Weatherford leads in digs. Smith gets help up front from another junior, Gracie Janow, who leads in blocks and is second in kills. Madysun Steele is second in blocks and one of three sophomores in the regular rotation.
“This is probably the most well-rounded team I’ve had, as far as hitting up front and solid defense,” Hill said. “But they’ve worked hard at it. They’ve spent a lot of hours.”
The Lady Panthers know if they progress beyond the region tournament the competition is going to get tougher. The program has earned its way to the state tournament before.
And when the Lady Panthers have made the trip to Murfreesboro, it seems like the entire population of Sale Creek makes the trip with them. Whether she meant geographically, or this season competitively, Hill said: “I’m kind of happy where we are.”
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @KelleySmiddie.
TSSAA D-I REGION VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENTS
Monday’s schedules (times EDT) * 3-AAA at Cookeville: 6-Ooltewah vs. Cookeville; 7:30-Warren County vs. Cleveland * 4-AA at Upperman: 6:30-Notre Dame vs. Upperman; 7:30-Central Magnet vs. Signal Mountain; 8:30-Championship * 3-A at Grace Academy: 6-Lookout Valley vs. Grace Academy; 7-Silverdale Baptist Academy vs. Sale Creek Tuesday’s schedules (times EDT) * 3-AAA: TBA-Championship at Cookeville or Cleveland * 3-AA at Red Bank: 5-McMinn Central vs. Red Bank; 6-Hixson vs. Loudon; 7-Championship * 3-A at Grace Academy: Championship, 6 TSSAA ALL-DISTRICT TEAMS * 5-AAA: Savannah Carroll, Reagan Morrison, Bradley Central; Cameren Swafford, Kristie Williams, Soddy-Daisy; Hillary English, Madison Hayes, East Hamilton; Kate Essenburg, Hannah Grace Moore, Kaley Walker, Walker Valley; Macy Milliken, Courtney Swafford, Shelby Sutton, Sidney Killingsworth (co-MVP), Ooltewah; Lauren Lee, Amber Morman, Anna Renshaw, Emma Flowers (co-MVP), Cleveland. * 7-AA: Rachel Hale, Bledsoe County; Faith Haynes, Grundy County; Ireland Burch, Jordan Smith, Sequatchie County; Cassidy Curry, Alexandria Johnson, Chattanooga Christian; Ally Mildenberger, Tess Scobey, Claire Vander Werf, Notre Dame; Kate Barry, Aubrie Johnson, Maia Rackel, Nicole Terfloth, Signal Mountain. * 6-A: Lily Fredericks, Van Buren; Cassie Coppinger, Whitwell; Victoria Grider, South Pittsburg; Lindsey Glass, Brianna Harner, Marion County; Savannah Graham, Lilli Morgan, Richard Hardy; Caitlin Pruitt, Tennille Rogers, Raven Smith, Lookout Valley; Gracie Janow, Bailey Nelson, Ariana Smith, Morgan Weatherford, Sale Creek. * 5-A: Jayla Ball, CGLA; Ashleigh Brackett, Copper Basin; Mykayla Hampton, Megan Pool, Arts & Sciences; Falon Blaylock, Emma Dale, Gracie Pierce, Silverdale Baptist Academy; Meredith Balthrop, Julia Headrick, Mackenzie Mann, Boyd-Buchanan; Summer Dean, Maggie Long, Autumn Parrot, Alexandra Smith (MVP), Grace Academy. Coach of the year: Hillary Waters, Grace Academy. GHSA ALL-AREA TEAMS * 6-AAAA: Second team-Kirsten Elrod, Pickens; Melisa Fraire, Southeast Whitfield; Taylor Williams, Ridgeland; Jade Maggard, LaFayette; Kaley Long, Northwest Whitfield; Kinsey Hargis, Heritage. First team-Te’a Owens, Ridgeland (POY); Karissa Tatum, LaFayette; Kayleigh Reece, Gilmer; Holly Heath, MaLane Kyer, Northwest Whitfield; Nikol Taylor, Heritage; Coach of the Year: Kari Cooper, Heritage. * 6-AAA: Ciarra Hatton, Murray County; Meredith Barber, Kelsey Bates, Coahulla Creek; Ricki Lynn Bickley, Madison Spence, Ringgold; Avery Bishop, Hannah Long, Cody Wheat, North Murray; Sydni Eaves, Macey Gregg, Leah Oliver, Rachel Harwood (MVP). * 4-A: Emma Boles, Hannah Lee, Sidney Pierce, Aubree Yancey, Gordon Lee.