Youngest Faulkner now carries on state volleyball tournament tradition

MURFREESBORO – Alexa Faulkner has seen the TSSAA state volleyball tournament as a fan and as a participant.

Today, the Siegel High senior begins her final tournament as the latter.

Siegel enters the program's eighth TSSAA state volleyball tournament in the school's 12th year at 12:30 p.m. today when it plays host to Ravenwood. Much has changed since Siegel's first appearance in 2004.

First-year Siegel coach Shawn Robinson is the fourth Lady Stars coach in program history. All four coaches have led the program to at least one state tournament.

But one name has remained the same on every Siegel state tournament team. The last name "Faulkner."

Alexa Faulkner, a senior, is the third and final sister to play in the state tournament for Siegel.

"(My sisters) have done a lot to make me the player that I am," the youngest Faulkner said. "I've grown up in this gym.

"I've grown up in a lot of pressure, trying to step up in their shoes and trying to be the players that they were. But over the years, I learned that I am my own player. I don't have to fill their shoes. I just have to do my thing."

Oldest sister Morgan Faulkner was a multi-sport standout at Siegel. She was on the 2004, 2005 and 2007 state tournament teams.

Middle sister Brooke Faulkner concentrated on just volleyball. She was a standout outside hitter on the 2009, 2010 and 2011 teams.

And now it's youngest sister Alexa Faulkner's turn. She's been a starter at rightside for the past two seasons. She was a freshman on the 2011 team.

"She's just carrying it on," Brooke Faulkner said.

Added Morgan Faulkner, "She's leaving the Faulkner name on a good note."

And as a rightside hitter, Alexa Faulkner has a significant role in the Lady Stars' offensive attack.

"She's provided us a solid rightside hitter the way she produces," Robinson said. "She's been a strong foundation on that right side."

But Alexa Faulkner admits sister Brooke had a key part in this team's success.

Brooke Faulkner used to hold her own clinics with other Siegel players at the Faulkner residence. After all, current teammates Tori Simmons and Emily Stockstill both lived in the same neighborhood.

"It's like a family thing," Brooke Faulkner said. "They are like family to us."

The clinics, though, could be intense. It included running suicides around the house, push-ups in the yard, diving for balls on the concrete — with their knee pads on.

"She was a bully," said Alexa Faulkner of her sister. "But it really helped us, I think."

Morgan Faulkner, who is now a teacher at Siegel Middle, said she knew back when she played that the youngest of the Faulkner trio would also be successful on the volleyball court.

"Even when we were here, she'd be out in the hallway playing volleyball," she said. "I remember people saying they saw her peppering (the volleyball) in the hallway at all of our games.

"She grew up in a gym. I wouldn't expect anything less than the position her and her team are in."

Siegel has never reached Friday's championship. The Lady Stars placed third a year ago.

"We told her that if there is going to be a year for Siegel to win it, it's this year," Morgan Faulkner said.

After all, this is the last year with a Faulkner on the court.

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.

TODAY'S GAMES

at Siegel High

• Blackman vs. Farragut, 11 a.m.

• Siegel vs. Ravenwood, 12:30 p.m.

*Blackman will play a second game at 3:30 p.m. if it wins its first game, or 6:30 p.m. if it loses its first game.

*Siegel will play a second game at 5 p.m. if it wins its first game, or 8 p.m. if it loses its first game.