Lady Choctaws storm past Gibbs in opening round

Dyer County junior Rylee Key goes up for one of her kills during the Lady Choctaws' first-round win over Gibbs in the TSSAA Class AA Volleyball State Tournament on Tuesday evening at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

By JASON PEEVYHOUSE

Sports Editor

Dyer County, making its fourth straight trip to the TSSAA Class AA Volleyball State Tournament in Murfreesboro, got its pursuit of the school's first state championship off to a strong start on Tuesday evening at Siegel High School with a three-set sweep of Gibbs in the opening round.

Lady Choctaw senior Teagan Reed looks to set up the Dyer County return.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

“I really think we played well as a team,” Dyer County Head Coach Shanna O'Bright said. “We had great chemistry. We had great fire. We had great fight. And it showed.”

The Lady Choctaws jumped out to an early lead but the scrapping Gibbs team kept it close early. A Teagan Reed ace and a kill from Emma Wray along with an Ava Huke block helped Dyer County begin to pull away. Though the Lady Eagles were able to battle back to cut it to 15-12, a Rylee Key kill opened a strong finish to the frame which saw her add multiple kills along with ones from Reed to outscore Gibbs 10-5 down the stretch to take the first set 25-17.

Dyer County fell behind early in the second set but quickly clawed their way back as a Key block put the Lady Choctaws up 5-3. Wray and Reed added kills to go along with a Huke tip and a Blair Acree block to keep the orange and white on top 11-7. Kennedy Hill added an ace and Kierstyn Ray added two more to go along with a Key kill to put Dyer County on top 19-10. The front line helped seal the win as Key, Reed and Ray added points before an Evie Rogers ace and an Erin Foster kill ended the set with a 25-17 win in by Dyer County.

Dyer County's Erin Foster (left) and Rylee Key (middle) go up for a block against a Lady Eagle return on Tuesday.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

Dyer County then dominated the third set, jumping out to leads of 4-0 and 10-4 on the way to a 25-9 victory to clinch the first-round sweep.

This marks the third time in four years the Lady Choctaws have won their opening round matchup and first since 2022. O'Bright agreed momentum is important at the state tournament.

“We just have to keep running our offense and playing our game,” Dyer County's head coach added. “And, yes, getting that first win was a big thing.”

The Lady Choctaws will see a big test in the second round on Wednesday at noon as Dyer County takes on defending state champion Signal Mountain at Siegel High School.