Dyersburg falls to Crockett County in 13AA Semifinals

Dyersburg senior Kalli Maclin makes an over-the-shoulder save during the Lady Trojans' season-ending loss to Crockett County in the District 13AA Semifinals on Tuesday night in Newbern.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

By JASON PEEVYHOUSE

Sports Editor

Dyersburg was able to battle back from an early one-set deficit, but the Lady Trojans had no answer for the Lady Cavaliers in the third set as Crockett County eliminated Dyersburg in the district semifinals for the second straight season in the District 13AA Semifinals on Tuesday night in Newbern.

Lady Trojan senior Preslee Quertermous goes up for the ball during the Dyersburg loss on Tuesday night in Newbern.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

“I told them I hate that we didn’t come out with a win but we set the standards high,” Dyersburg Head Coach De’Licia Ahmad said she told her team following the season-ending loss. “We had one of the best records we’ve had since I started coaching here.

“We’re just going to keep building from there.”

Dyersburg fell behind early and found themselves trailing by as much as six early in the first set. But, kills from Kalli Maclin and Taniyah Brooks helped the Lady Trojans claw back to within three late in the set. But, despite a block and an ace from Addie Gatlin, the Lady Trojans were unable to get over the hump and fell in the first set 25-20.

Thanks to points from Gatlin and Quertermous, Dyersburg found itself leading for much of the early part of the second set. Crockett, though, battled back and looked poised to go up 2-0, and took a 24-22 lead late. But, a Brooks kill and a Maclin tip tied the game before Dyersburg tacked on two more points to take the set 26-24 and tie the match at a set apiece.

Dyersburg kept the momentum early in the third set, getting a block from Gatlin and kills from Brooks and Maclin to take a 7-4 lead. But, the momentum swung harshly in Crockett County’s favor as the Lady Cavaliers front row stepped up while also capitalizing on some Dyersburg miscues to outscore the Lady Trojans 21-4 through the rest of the set and take the frame 25-11.

Crockett County continued to ride the wave of momentum into the fourth set, taking an early 8-2 lead. A Maclin kill and a Quertermous ace cut into the lead but Crockett slowly but surely began to pull away. Dyerbsurg got as close as five following a Quertermous kill and a Kate Schroeder ace before Crockett County ended the game with a 9-5 run to take the fourth set 25-16 and eliminate Dyersburg.

“There haven’t been very many points this season where we’ve had to rally,” Ahmad explained. “I think we just got tired and didn’t have enough in the tank to finish.”

The loss ends the high school careers of five Lady Trojan seniors – Kate Schroeder, Kyla Fowlkes, Presless Quertermous, Addie Gatlin, and Kalli Maclin.

“The girls have been a pleasure to coach,” Dyersburg’s head coach said of the group of seniors. “They’ve brought a lot of passion and heart to the game. They always bring energy and that’s something that we’re going to have to fill the void of next year.”

Crockett County advances to Thursday’s district championship game against Dyer County at 6 p.m. in Newbern.