The Lady Indians didn’t get off to the best of starts at their Rocky Top tournament in Tennessee. Friday night produced a pair of losses, and Saturday didn’t start out well with two more losses, handing the team a season-high four-match losing skid.
The fortunes then reversed for #4-ranked TFS, who finished off with four consecutive wins. That resulted in claiming the Bronze Bracket Championship.
Friday’s losses came against Summertown (18-25, 10-25) and Seymour (26-28, 17-25), the former of which snapped Tallulah Fall’s school record of six straight victories. Saturday began with losses to Farragut (14-25, 17-25) and Paintsville (22-25, 22-25), putting the team in desperate need of a win.
TFS then racked up four in a row to halt the losing streak and start a new winning one. Perry County was the first victim, as TFS won 25-20 and 25-6 to claim the match. Then came a win over Bell County (25-17, 25-20), Clinton (28-26, 25-20), and finally Whitley (27-25, 26-24) in a thriller to claim the Bronze Champions title. Bell County was a #1-ranked team in KY in its district, while Whitley was a top-10 ranked team as well.
With statistics still not finalized for the eight matches, it remains to be verified, but senior Sarah Jennings could have eclipsed two school records. She entered the tournament just 61 kills shy of the school’s all-time record, as well as a mere six aces shy of the all-time school record. With the tournament ending, TFS is now 16-7 overall on the season, and play Highlands (NC) at home on Monday.
MATCH SCORES:
Friday
TFS L 0-2 vs Summertown (18-25, 10-25)
TFS L 0-2 vs Seymour (26-28, 17-25)
Saturday
TFS L 0-2 vs Farragut (14-25, 17-25)
TFS L 0-2 vs Paintsville (22-25, 22-25)
TFS W 2-0 vs Perry County (25-20, 25-6)
TFS W 2-0 vs #1 Bell County (25-17, 25-20)
TFS W 2-0 vs #7 Whitley County (27-25, 26-24)
