H.S. VOLLEYBALL: TCA finishes runner-up in Class A

MURFREESBORO – The loss along with the bruises will hurt for tonight, but the accomplishments of the Trinity Christian Academy volleyball team will far exceed those pains tomorrow.

The Lady Lions became the first team from West Tennessee to reach the state championship in any classification. But Goodpasture was too tough to overcome as the Lady Cougars won the Class A state championship in straight sets – 26-24, 25-13, 25-22 – at Siegel High School on Friday.

“I told the girls after the match that they have everything to keep their heads up for this season,” TCA coach Kelly Elliott said. “They overachieved. You always want to win, but they accomplished the goals that they set out at the beginning of the season.”

TCA ends the season with a 42-7 record.

Outside hitter Clare Taylor and setter Lauren Schmidt have developed into two of the top players in West Tennessee over the last two years, but this week it was a team effort to get to the championship led by the defense.

“We came out this week and played as a team,” Schmidt said. “We covered each other’s weaknesses, played to our strengths and we just loved each other.”

TCA’s defense didn’t shy away from any attack and dug many balls in each match. The championship was no different as three players had 20 digs or more – Katie Tillman (35), Rachel Carson (30) and Taylor (20).

“I told them that people are going to remember the match yesterday, and that came from every one of you,” Elliott said.

Goodpasture had one of the top attacks that the Lady Lions have seen all season led by senior Kylie Scruggs, the tournament MVP. Scruggs finished with 21 kills and sophomore Jordan Jones added 11.

The hardest part of beating Goodpasture is that the Lady Cougars did the little things right. They covered the floor, stopping many TCA attacks, and were quick to get their unbalanced passes back in the air.

“They took their game up a notch, and they played stronger on defense,” Elliott said. “We played great defense today, but they made less errors.”

TCA took Goodpasture to five sets on Thursday, and the Lady Lions came right out and played with them in the first set of the championship.

After falling behind 10-5, TCA fought back to take a 22-21 lead on four straight service points from Taylor.

The Lady Lions also held a 24-23 lead, but could not close out the set.

With Goodpasture winning, momentum quickly swung to the Lady Cougars, and they used it as an asset to easily win the second set after jumping out to a 16-8 lead.

TCA wasn’t ready to give up just yet. The Lady Lions pushed in the third set behind the attack of Taylor, who finished with 20 kills in the championship and 161 kills in the tournament.

“It is our defense; that is the only way I can hit,” Taylor said. “I have the best setter and the best passers.

“We never give up. This was our last game together, and we were going to make it count. We were not going to let them just have it.”

The Lady Lions held a 10-7 lead early, but five straight points by junior Lou Phillips put Goodpasture ahead 13-10.

TCA came back to tie it up 19-19, but again could not close out the set.

“Goodpasture took their plans and executed them,” Schmidt said. “It was hard for us to put a ball down.”

The Lady Lions graduate six seniors – Olivia Hall, Emily Taylor, Rachel Carson, Mikaela Allen, Clare Taylor and Schmidt.

“This week has been unbelievable,” Taylor said. “No one thought we would get this far.”

Michael Odom, 425-9754