Just two weeks remain in the TSSAA volleyball regular season and the Robertson County-area teams are looking to gain some momentum ahead of their upcoming district tournaments.
Last week, the majority of area teams had a full slate of games on their schedules, with most of them opting to compete in the Liberty Creek Invitational.
Could East Robertson continue to flex its muscle in District 8-A? Could Springfield continue to turn heads in District 11-AAA? Could Brandon Niblock’s White House Heritage Patriots continue their pursuit of a District 11-AA championship?
Let’s take a look in our weekly volleyball roundup:
East Robertson
Monday, Sept. 11 – vs Merrol Hyde, W 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-9)
Tuesday, Sept. 12 – vs Jo Byrns, W 3-0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-10)
Thursday, Sept. 14 – vs Smith County, W 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-20)
Friday, Sept. 15 – Saturday, Sept. 16 – at Liberty Creek Invitational
It was yet another dominant week for Jamie Pennington’s Indians, as East Robertson remained undefeated in District 8-A competition. The Indians hosted Robertson County rival Jo Byrns on Tuesday afternoon in Cross Plains and earned a sweep behind the effort of middle blocker Libby Keith. The senior recorded 12 kills in East Robertson’s straight-set victory over the Red Devils.
East Robertson continued its superb play at the Liberty Creek Invitational Tournament on Saturday, going undefeated in the tournament and taking home the first-place trophy.
Stats from Monday and Thursday
Katie Pennington (OH) – 26 kills, 22 digs
Libby Keith (MB) – 18 kills, 12 digs
EmMarie Tisdale (S) – 34 assists, 7 kills
Mason Hester (OH) – 12 kills, 7 digs, 4 aces
Greenbrier
Tuesday, Sept. 12 – vs Whites Creek, W 3-0 (25-7, 25-7, 25-9)
Thursday, Sept. 14 – at White House, L 3-0
Tori Sherer’s Bobcats notched their fourth District 11-AA win of the season in their home sweep of Whites Creek on Tuesday, Sept. 14. Offensively, seniors Abby Stacey and Kendall Peterson helped lead the Bobcats offense. Greenbrier currently sits in fourth place in the District 11-AA standings, trailing Liberty Creek, White House Heritage and White House.
Jo Byrns
Monday, Sept. 11- at White House, W 3-1
Tuesday, Sept.12 – at East Robertson, L 3-0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-10)
Friday, Sept. 15 – Saturday, Sept. 16 – at Liberty Creek Invitational
Jo Byrns picked up its first road victory of the season on Monday, Sept. 11 in a win over White House. The Red Devils claimed the final two sets of the match after being tied 1-1 after the completion of two sets.
Despite the road win over the Blue Devils, Jo Byrns will head into this week still looking for its first win in District 8-A. Mary Miller’s group lost its lone district match this week in a road loss to East Robertson. Senior Julia Arms recorded eight kills in the Red Devils’ loss in straight sets.
Springfield
Monday, Sept. 11 – at Gallatin, L 3-1 (23-25, 25-15, 25-16, 25-16)
Tuesday, Sept. 12 – vs Clarksville, L 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-21)
Thursday, Sept. 14 – vs Rossview, W 3-1
Friday, Sept. 15 – Saturday, Sept. 16 – at Liberty Creek Invitational
Springfield head coach Ann-Marie Cobb challenged her volleyball team this week, scheduling a road trip to Gallatin to face the red-hot Green Wave. Emily Ingham’s squad continued its great season, picking up a four-set win over the visiting Yellow Jackets. The task on Tuesday didn’t get any easier for Springfield, as it welcomed District 11-AAA power Clarksville to town. The Wildcats swept Springfield in straight sets and moved to 26-3 this season.
Thursday’s match versus Rossview was vital for Cobb’s group and the Yellow Jackets delivered for their head coach. Springfield defeated the visiting Hawks in four sets and cemented itself as contenders for a second-place finish in District 11-AAA.
Stats from Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
Rayne Erickson (MH) – 40 digs, 14 kills, 13 blocks
Nyah Hudson (MH) – 33 kills, 5 blocks
Amelia MacKenzie (S) – 35 assists, 18 digs, 3 aces
Aricka McFadden (OH) – 15 kills, 11 digs, 4 blocks
Emmeline Collins (OH) – 31 digs, 21 kills, 6 blocks, 5 aces
Anna Gunn (S) – 37 assists, 18 digs
White House
Monday, Sept. 11 – vs Jo Byrns, L 3-1
Tuesday, Sept. 12 – at Beech, L 3-0 (25-10, 25-14, 25-14)
Thursday, Sept. 14 – vs Greenbrier, W 3-0
After falling to Jo Byrns and Beech to start the week, Sami Newmister’s Blue Devils picked up a huge District 11-AA win over the Greenbrier Bobcats. White House currently sits in third place in the District 11-AA standings, trailing Liberty Creek and White House Heritage.
White House Heritage
Monday, Sept. 11 – at Portland, W 3-2
Tuesday, Sept.12 – at Liberty Creek, L 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-20)
Thursday, Sept. 14 – vs Whites Creek, W 3-0 (25-10, 25-10, 25-10)
Friday, Sept. 15 – Saturday, Sept. 16 – at Border Battle Invitational
White House Heritage entered last week looking to put a stranglehold on the District 11-AA standings with a win over Liberty Creek. The Patriots traveled to Gallatin on Tuesday, Sept.12 and fell to the Wolves after claiming the first set. Brandon Niblock’s group rebounded on Thursday in a sweep over the Whites Creek Cobras.
The battle for the District 11-AA regular-season championship will be one to watch over the final two weeks of the season. Heritage’s remaining district schedule includes matches versus Greenbrier, Macon County, Whites Creek and White House.
