Briarcrest, Harding fall in state volleyball finals

MURFREESBORO — It wasn't the ending the Briarcrest volleyball team had hoped for. But at least one of their biggest fans was there to see them in person.

The Saints lost to Chattanooga Baylor in four sets Thursday at MTSU's Murphy Center, falling 25-20, 25-11, 17-25, 26-24 in the TSSAA Division II-AA state championship. It's the second runner-up finish in three years for the team, which won the title in 2016.

More:  Tennessee high school volleyball state tournament schedule

Setter Cade Stewart played a terrific match with 36 assists. Alyiah Wells had 17 kills while Carsyn Starr added 14. Carrie Yerty certainly appreciated the effort.

Yerty — who formerly coached at the University of Memphis and now assists Carla Anderton at Briarcrest — is battling colon cancer but was able to make it back to the bench for this week's tournament in Murfreesboro. She's expected to start chemotherapy soon.

"They played so hard, and I'm so proud of them," she said. "They've been such an inspiration. They've been a family to me."

Briarcrest, which ends the season with a 34-8 record against what is almost certainly the toughest schedule in the area, took a long road to the championship game. After losing to Brentwood Academy in Tuesday's opener, the Saints responded by defeating Father Ryan and BA.

All of those matches went the full five sets, meaning Briarcrest played 19 sets of intense, high-quality volleyball in the span of 48 or so hours.

"I think it did (affect us)," Anderton said. "Baylor ran a much better offense, so it took us a little time to adjust. We made some adjustments in the third and fourth set and played them very close.

"We probably didn't hit our best, but I thought Cade did a very good job holding it together. We changed our whole blocking scheme — moved Alyiah and Carsyn around — and Carsyn got a ton of blocks. So I'm pleased with that.

"I'm very proud of them. We played some tough teams ... but we held it together."

Webb defeats Harding in DII-A final

For the third year in a row, Harding's season ended in disappointment as the Lions fell to Knoxville Webb 25-11, 25-10, 25-14 in the TSSAA Division II-A state championship. It's the fifth consecutive championship for the Spartans, tying the state record.

"You have to be at your best against a team like that, and we didn't play our best," coach Michael Sansone said after watching his team finish the year 32-16.

"We did a lot of good things. ... They have three D-I commits. I'm fortunate that I have kids that show up and work hard for me. It's not ever given to you, but we look at this as our goal, to play on the last day.

"We're young. We'll circle this date for next year and be back."

Webb defeated Harding in the first match of the tournament Tuesday morning before the Lions eliminated Concord Christian and Goodpasture to reach the final. Playing the final game of her high school career, Lauren Deaton led Harding with eight kills and seven digs. Karagan Prine added 11 assists.

All five of Webb's titles in this current streak have come at the expense of Memphis teams; the Spartans beat St. George's in 2013 and ECS in 2014.

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.