TEAMS TO WATCH
1. Baylor: In Division II-AA, the Lady Red Raiders are seeking a fifth consecutive East/Middle Region title and ninth state berth in succession. It helps having an all-state setter (Sarah Sumida) and four hitters 5-foot-10 or taller.2. Cleveland: The District 5-AAA and Region 3 champions lost their fine libero to graduation, but they return a dominant hitter who’s surrounded by plenty of talent, such as junior setter Anna Renshaw.3. Northwest Whitfield: The Lady Bruins graduated one player but return 10 who coach Kelsey Kirk said “have had ample varsity experience.” MaLane Kyer and Kailey Long were GHSA All-Area 6-AAAA picks in 2016.4. Sale Creek: The Class A Lady Panthers graduated a key all-around contributor, but they return a strong senior nucleus in hitter Gracie Janow, setter Bailey Nelson and libero Morgan Weatherford.5. Gordon Lee: Led by senior Aubree Yancey and another hitter, sophomore Gracie O’Neal, the Lady Trojans of GHSA Class A return eight players from last year’s team that won more than 30 matches.PLAYERSTO WATCH1. Emma Flowers, Cleveland: As a junior she had nearly 800 kills, almost 400 digs and helped the Class AAA Lady Raiders to several firsts, including a state-tournament trip for the first time.2. Sarah Sumida, Baylor: She had more than 1,100 assists as a junior and was second in aces as the Lady Red Raiders finished as state runners-up.3. Maia Rackel, Signal Mountain: The big-time leaper was one of the top two in kills and blocks as a junior last year for the Class AA state runner-up, and she was second in digs behind her team’s libero.4. Holly Heath, Northwest Whitfield: The current senior was the 2016 GHSA Area 6-AAAA player of the year. She’s an outside hitter and defensive specialist and more than an adequate passer.5. Lilly Berger, GPS: The senior has worked her way back from a torn ACL that happened early last season. She’s an outside hitter with the ability to lead the Bruisers in multiple statistical categories.
With the abundance of TSSAA private schools moving from Division I to Division II starting this school year, the state organization had to completely rework its districts and regions.
Many Chattanooga-area volleyball teams were affected so greatly that at district matches they may want to think about placing stickers on the front of their jerseys that read, HELLO MY NAME IS:
Volleyball season for Tennessee teams begins Monday. Area Georgia schools began their seasons last week.
One such TSSAA school affected most is Class AAA’s Soddy-Daisy, which has moved from District 5 to District 6. Instead of competing in a district with longtime rival Ooltewah and the Bradley County schools, the Lady Trojans are the southernmost team in a league that includes Cookeville, Warren County and White County.