TSSAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
VOLLEYBALL
Loretto defeats South Greene 3-0 (25-10, 25-17, 25-17)
Thursday, 24th
Summertown defeats South Greene 3-0 (25-18, 25-11, 25-18)
MURFREESBORO – The South Greene Lady Rebels concluded their season on Thursday morning in the Class 1A State Tournament, facing a familiar adversary, Summertown, who ultimately won in a season-ending sweep (25-18, 25-11, 25-18). South Greene, with a final record of 15-10, battled their way through the challenges and triumphs of a difficult season to reach the state stage for the 16th consecutive year.
Throughout the season, the Lady Rebels faced adversity, enduring disruptions in their home venue and the snapping of several winning streaks. Despite a regular season that saw them dip below .500, South Greene rallied with six straight postseason victories, securing both the District 1-A and Region 1-A championships and securing yet another state tournament appearance.
In Thursday’s match, Summertown’s knack for capitalizing on extended runs proved decisive. In the first set, South Greene opened with a promising 12-6 lead, only for Summertown to storm back with a 14-point run that ended the set at 25-18. South Greene’s Davanie Tarleton and Baylee Jennings added four and three kills, respectively, showcasing their grit and tenacity even amid tough breaks.
The second set continued in a similar vein, with South Greene trailing closely at 11-9 before Summertown launched a crushing 13-point streak to win 25-11. Tarleton contributed five kills in the set, nearly half of South Greene’s points, as she and her teammates battled to the end.
In the final set, Summertown’s runs were contained to six points on two occasions, but South Greene ultimately fell short with a 25-18 loss. Tarleton led the Lady Rebels once again, delivering eight kills, while senior Addison Compton added two.
Summertown’s standout, Abbie Jo Shaffer, ended with an impressive game-high 25 kills, supported by teammates Amelia Emerson and Elizabeth Garland, who added eight and four kills respectively.
Reflecting on the season, Coach Gregg praised the senior leaders—Faith Baughard, Tarleton, Compton, Jennings, and Ryleigh Gregg—who all left a lasting mark on the program.
Although the season ended in a tough loss, South Greene’s journey back to Murfreesboro displayed the team’s resilience, teamwork, and enduring commitment to excellence. As Coach Gregg put it, “They’ve overachieved, led by example, and had great leadership. Just a great group of girls. You don’t want it to end this way, but at least we did get back to state.”
With the Lady Rebels’ legacy firmly intact, they’ll look ahead to build on their strengths, carrying forward the foundation laid by this year’s team.
SOCCER
Franklin County defeats Greeneville 5-0
Chattanooga, Tn – The Greeneville Lady Devils soccer team saw their impressive season come to an end on Wednesday night in the Class AA State Tournament quarterfinals, where they fell to Franklin County 5-0. It was a tough conclusion for a squad that had battled fiercely throughout the season. This year marked Greeneville’s 10th consecutive trip to the state tournament, but for the first time in that impressive run, they were unable to advance to the semifinals.
The Lady Devils started strong, controlling possession early and creating multiple chances in the first five minutes. Gabi Stayton’s dangerous set pieces put the Franklin County defense on alert, and Abby Adkins had a couple of shots on goal. However, Franklin County’s keeper, Cali Alonso, proved to be a barrier. The momentum quickly shifted when Franklin County’s Riley Howell pounced on a misplay and set up Laura Buenrostro for a one-on-one opportunity, leading to a 1-0 lead.
Just moments later, Franklin County struck again, with Gracen Baggett assisting Baylor Russell for a 2-0 lead, deflating the Lady Devils’ early confidence. By halftime, Franklin County had extended the lead to 3-0, and despite Greeneville’s efforts, including shots from Mackenzie Castro and Adkins, they couldn’t find the back of the net.
Injuries to key defenders Marley VanBuskirk and Elaina Philbeck, along with Emma Kate Weems battling through a hamstring issue, hampered Greeneville’s ability to defend Franklin County’s relentless attack. Franklin County’s Cali Banks added two more goals, and a penalty kick from Osiris Rodriguez sealed the final 5-0 scoreline. Greeneville’s keeper Lily Evatt made six saves in the effort.
Franklin County entered as the number two seed and will play the third seed Signal Mountain in the semifinals. The other semifinal is number one seed Tennessee High vs number four seed, and defending State Champion, Station Camp.
While the loss was a disappointing end to a hard-fought season, the Lady Devils’ tenacity and tradition of excellence remain intact. This season highlighted their strength as a program and their ability to compete at the highest level, despite the challenges they faced.
