Junior varsity squad wins JV District Championship

CELINA-The Lady Bulldog volleyball team wrapped up their season here in the District 7-A Semifinals last week, as they fell 3-1 to eventual conference runner-up Jackson County.

The Lady Dawgs finished the season at 12-5, and they entered the postseason as the league’s #3 seed with a 9-3 district mark.

The team was led by starting seniors Reagan Cherry, Ella Eads, and Baylor Walden.

Following the conclusion of the tournament, which saw York beat Jackson County for the championship, Cherry and Eads were named to the all-district team, while Walden made the all-tournament team.

Juniors Haylen Garrison, Natalie Smith, Jenna Thompson, and Emma Wix joined the three seniors to make up a solid seven-player starting rotation for the Lady Dawgs.

Clay County beat Red Boiling Springs 3-0 in their quarterfinal game, before battling the Lady Blue Devils throughout.

They evened their final match at one set apiece by following up 25-13 opening-set loss with a win by the same score in the second set.

Then in the third set, Clay County rallied from behind to tie it at 24, before Jackson County scored the final two points to win 26-24.

The Lady Blue Devils went on to advance to the district title game with a 25-18 fourth-set victory.

Garrison, Smith, Thompson, and Wix will be joined by a host of talented returning players next season.

The Lady Bulldog reserves teamed together to win the District 7-A Junior Varsity (JV) Championship and also dominated throughout the regular season to finish with a 16-1 record.

The JV Lady Dawgs included seniors Addison Brown and Martina Riddle; junior Lily Pigg; sophomores Chanley Rich, Haylee Roberts, and Chloe Peck; and freshmen Nivia Roberts, Ella Donaldson, Izzie Smith, Emerson Sharp, Lylah Vitale, Ellie Watson, Tyla Adams, and Ava Ledbetter.

Haylee Roberts was named the District 7-A JV Tournament MVP, while Nivia Roberts and Pigg made the all-tournament team.

Both teams had successful seasons under first-year head coach Briley Burchett, who was assisted by Sarah Graves and Joe Adams.  The coaching staff was also aided by junior managers Emmy Carr and Abbi Shaull.