Long run of Chernaks, Millikens and Sullivans nearing end for Ooltewah volleyball

Ooltewah High School volleyball players Ally Chernak, Macy Milliken and Tyler Sullivan pose for a photo Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, at Ooltewah High School in Ooltewah, Tenn. Each is the last in their family to play volleyball at Ooltewah after they all had older siblings play ahead of them. Ooltewah High School volleyball players Ally Chernak, Macy Milliken and Tyler Sullivan pose for a photo Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, at Ooltewah High School in Ooltewah, Tenn. Each is the last in their family to play volleyball at Ooltewah after they all had older siblings play ahead of them.

By Kelley Smiddie September 3, 2017 4 min read

For the last decade-plus, there has been at least one Chernak, Sullivan or Milliken on an Ooltewah volleyball roster. In most of those years, there’s been at least one of each.

But 2017 marks the end of that run. Ally Chernak, Tyler Sullivan and Macy Milliken are in the midst of their high school senior seasons with the Lady Owls, who were one of the hosts along with Red Bank this weekend for the 31st Choo Choo Classic.

Ooltewah (11-11) played well enough in pool play to qualify to play in the Gold bracket Saturday at Red Bank, but it lost in single-elimination to fellow District 5-AAA opponent Walker Valley. The Lady Mustangs ended up advancing to the final but lost 2-0 to GPS. Set scores were 25-19, 25-14.

Red Bank won the Silver final at Ooltewah, defeating Soddy-Daisy 2-1. Set scores were 25-17, 14-25, 16-14.

Jessica Chernak is a 2009 Ooltewah graduate and was the first among the clan to become a member of the Lady Owls’ volleyball program in the fall of 2005. Ally recalls being 6 years old and coming to matches when Jessica was on the team.