Lady Choctaws fall to Valor College Prep in semifinals

Dyer County's front line of (from left) Emma Wray, Rylee Key and Erin Foster get ready for action during the TSSAA Class AA Volleyball State Tournament Semifinal on Thursday at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

By JASON PEEVYHOUSE

Sports Editor

The road to the TSSAA Class AA Volleyball State Championship Game got a little tougher for Dyer County in Thursday afternoon at Siegel High School as the Lady Choctaws fell in three sets to the reigning Class AA runner-up Valor College Prep in the semifinals in Murfreesboro.

The Lady Choctaws started off strong, getting a Rylee Key tip to get an early lead. Moments later, Dyer County got a kill from Teagan Reed and a block from Blair Acree to take a commanding 9-3 lead in the first set. But, the Lady Wildcats battled back and cut the Dyer County lead to 10-8 later in the set. With kills from Key and an ace by Briley Abair, the Lady Choctaws looked to pull away and take a 20-13 lead. Valor responded with six straight points before Dyer County was able to get the ball back. However, the momentum clearly shifted as the Lady Wildcats outscored Dyer County 6-3 down the stretch to take the first set 25-23.

The Lady Choctaws were able to rebound momentarily in the second set, taking a 4-2 lead after a Key kill. The Lady Wildcats were able to go on a decent run which gave them an 11-7 lead before kills from Emma Wray and Key helped the Lady Choctaws tie the game. But, this would be as close as Dyer County got in the second set as the Lady Wildcats regained the lead moments later and fended off kills from Ava Huke and Blair Acree to take the second set 25-20.

The Lady Choctaws were able to lead early in the third set after a Key tip and an ace and a kill from Reed. But, Valor went on a 10-2 run to get breathing room before another Key kill ended the scoring spree. From there, the Lady Wildcats pulled away to win the third set 25-12 and advance to Friday's championship game at Rockvale High School.

Dyer County still has another chance to advance to its first-ever state title game as the Lady Choctaws await the winner of Signal Mountain and Creek Wood. Dyer County and the winner of that game will battle in the consolation final/second semifinal at 7 p.m. on Thursday for the second spot in Friday morning's TSSAA Class AA State Championship Game at Rockvale High School in Murfreesboro.