Signal Mountain’s Maia Rackel (10) deflects a shot from Notre Dame’s Maggie Martin and wins the point during one of the Eagles’ District 7-AA championship matches.Signal Mountain is making its fourth consecutive trip to the TSSAA Class AA volleyball state tournament after defeating Hixson 3-0 at Signal Mountain in one of last Thursday’s state sectionals.
The state tournament is Wednesday-Friday, Oct. 19-21, at various locations in the Murfreesboro area.
The Lady Eagles scored the first six points of their match on the way to winning the first set 25-11.
“I thought that helped,” Signal Mountain coach Jennifer Redman said. “We wanted to set a precedent that we came ready to play. I think we put them on their heels a little bit.”
Signal Mountain (43-8) won the next two sets 25-15, 25-20.
“The third set I felt like we lost focus a little bit,” said Redman. “Those are things we’ve got to get corrected in the next four days.”
Maia Rackel topped the Lady Eagles with 12 kills, and Olivia Powers had 10. Sidney Lapinski was the digs leader with 14, and her 14 assists were one fewer than leader Kate Barry. Mackenzie Lewis served three aces.
The Lady Eagles have been playing without kills leader and middle blocker Aubrie Johnson, who dislocated a thumb. Redman is expecting Johnson to be released by doctors early next week and to be available to play in the state tournament.
Dakota Rawiszer sparked Hixson (17-20) with five kills, three blocks and eight digs. Abby Rector also had five kills for the Lady Wildcats, who were playing in their third consecutive sectional.
Rachel Cline led with 10 digs and Sam Dove led with 10 assists. Dove, Courtney Jones and Samantha McKee were the team’s seniors.
“We knew we had a lot to do,” Hixson coach Janet Tate said of having to find successors for the five that graduated off last year’s state-tournament team. “They improved a lot. I was real pleased with our senior leadership. They were excellent examples.”
Email Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com.