Jackson area high school volleyball primer: Camden is team to beat
Here is the 2017 high school volleyball primer:
Favorites to make state
• Camden: The Lady Lions have lost eight matches in the first two years of having a varsity program. Two of those losses have come in sectional matches, but this could be the year they get through.
• South Side: The Lady Hawks are looking to make a fourth straight trip to the Class AA state tournament, but they must do that without four-year starter Shea Dean.
• TCA: Even though the Lady Lions move districts and must go through Middle Tennessee to get to state, they have the type of team that still get there with four starters back.
Players to Watch
• Caitlyn Brown (USJ, Senior, OH) – Brown finished last year with 302 kills, 201 digs, 79 blocks and 54 aces. Brown will try to help the Lady Bruins make a better postseason run.
• Ashlynne Clifft (South Side, Junior, OH) – Clifft will step into the role of the Lady Hawks’ go-to attacker. Her leaping ability gives her the advantage over most defenders.
• Kira Collier (Middleton, Senior, OH) – Collier led the Lady Tigers in kills last year with 388. She has gotten even stronger over the summer to have a better year this year.
• Misty Conaway (Chester County, Junior, OH) – Conaway will play a key role in the Eaglettes attack this year as she tries to lead the team back to the region tournament.
• Polly Dowty (Middleton, Senior, OH) – Dowty had 322 kills last season to finish second on the team, but she has the ability to play any spot on the court.
• Madison Estep (Camden, Junior, OH) – Estep led the team in kills last season as sophomore, and now she is back as an upperclassman ready to get her team to state.
• Catherine Hughes (Milan, Senior, Setter) – Hughes made the move to setter last year, so now she is ready to excel in that spot after being named to the All-West Tennessee First Team.
• Lauren Petty (TCA, Junior, Setter) – Petty can do about anything on the court as she led the team with 416 assists and 112 aces to go along with 248 kills and 218 digs last season.
• Martina Roznovsky (Peabody, Senior, Setter) – After spending the past three years as a libero, she makes the move to setter, and she will be the key to getting the Lady Tide’s offense going.
• Jordan Vick (Camden, Junior, Setter) – Vick might be the best prospect to come through West Tennessee as she has played high school varsity volleyball since she was in the fourth grade.
• Rosie White (Hardin County, Senior, MH) – White became a starter last year, and she has learned her role on the front line. Now she will try to get Hardin County back over .500.
• Bayleigh Woodward (Crockett County, Junior, Setter) – Woodward steps into the starting rotation to fill the shoes of the Lady Cavaliers’ all-time leader in assists, but she will be fine with time.
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Top games this season
• South Side at USJ (Aug. 24) – The Lady Bruins opened the season with a win, but should they be considered back in the talk as one of the best in the area? This one should help decide that.
• Crockett County vs. Dyersburg (Aug. 24 at Dyersburg; Sept. 26 at Crockett County) – These two have battled for district titles for the past eight years. Both have a new look this year after graduating a strong senior class.
• South Side at TCA (Aug. 28) – South Side has made three straight trips to the Class AA state tournament, while TCA has made eight straight trips to the Class A state tournament. Don’t be surprised for this to go five sets.
• Middleton vs. TCA (Sept. 7 at Middleton; Sept 21 at TCA) – These two teams have reached the Class A state tournament each of the past three years.
• Camden at South Side (Sept. 7) – The Lady Lions and Lady Hawks have been among the top teams in West Tennessee for the past two years, and now the two will get to meet on the court.
Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.