Lady Choctaws knock off defending champs

The Dyer County volleyball team celebrates their win over Signal Mountain in four sets on Wednesday afternoon in the TSSAA Class AA State Tournament at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro. With the win, the Lady Choctaws advance to the state semifinals on Thursday at 2 p.m. against Valor College Prep at Siegel High School.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

By JASON PEEVYHOUSE

Sports Editor

Fresh off their win on Tuesday in the opening round of the TSSAA Class AA Volleyball State Tournament at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro, the Lady Choctaws took down the defending state champions on Wednesday afternoon in the second round of the tournament, defeating Signal Mountain in four sets.

Dyer County's Kierstyn Ray sets the offense up for the Lady Choctaws.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

Dyer County jumped out to a 3-0 lead with Kierstyn Ray adding an ace to help the Lady Choctaw cause. The orange and white were able to fend off Signal Mountain with a kill from Rylee Key and a block by Ava Huke. The Lady Eagles kept fighting as they were able to cut it to one before a Blair Acree kill and four more from Key pushed the Dyer County lead to 15-12. Signal Mountain answered to tie the game moments later and even take a 23-20 lead late in the set. But, two blocks from Key tied the game at 23-23 then a Teagan Reed kill put the Lady Choctaws at set point where Emma Wray's ace gave Dyer County the set at 25-23.

“Like I told the girls earlier this morning – we just have to control the ball on our side,” Dyer County Head Coach Shanna O'Bright explained. “We knew they were great hitters and a solid team. We were trying to not worry so much about what they did but to control what we did.”

The Lady Eagles stormed back in the second set to take an early 3-0 lead. Key added a couple of kills to bring the Lady Choctaws within one but Signal Mountain managed to keep their lead through the set. Kills from Reed, Wray and Key kept Dyer County in it but the Lady Eagles pulled away late to take the second set 25-22.

Dyer County's student section cheers on the Lady Choctaws.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

“The first set is big but then you lose the second set so the third set becomes critical,” O'Bright added. “I'm proud of them for – like I said yesterday – the fight that they're showing right now.

“We could have easily fell flat after set two and we did kind of briefly. But then we put the foot on the gas.”

The Lady Choctaws fell down 2-0 early in the second set but managed to stay within striking distance thanks to kills from Huke, Acree and a Key block. Dyer County finally caught Signal Mountain with a Key block to tie the game at 13-13. The Lady Choctaws then picked up the pace with kills from Reed and Acree and a Huke block to take a 22-17 lead. Though the Lady Eagles continued to battle and put points on the board before kills from Key and Wray sealed the orange and white's 25-22 win in the third set.

The Lady Choctaws came out stronger in the fourth set, getting out to a 6-3 lead after a Huke kill. Though the Lady Eagles kept it close early, Dyer County began to pull away with kills from Reed and Key as well as a Briley Abair ace. The orange and white lead eventually swelled to 20-10 after a key kill. Signal Mountain had one more rally in them but the Lady Choctaws proved to be too far ahead to catch as a Kennedy Hill ace gave Dyer County a 25-17 win in the fourth set to take the match.

Part of Dyer County's ability to defeat the defending state champs was capitalizing on the Lady Eagles mistakes.

“During one of the timeouts I called we talked about the importance of doing the little things,” O'Bright explained. “You know, making sure we get a block or making sure we're reading hands and communicating on tips and things like that.

“They've done such an excellent job. It was a total team effort. I love to watch them work together, play together, and come out on top.”

The Lady Choctaws take on Valor Prep, the defending Class AA runner-up, in the state semifinals on Thursday at 2 p.m. The winner advances to the TSSAA Class AA State Championship Game at Rockvale High School on Friday at 10 a.m. The loser will play in the consolation final at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Siegel for a second shot at reaching the state title game.

“Now, we've got to get some rest and reset and try again tomorrow,” the Dyer County head coach said.