COSBY – The calendar flipped but just the same as the previous nine years the South Greene volleyball team sits on top of Region 1-A.
The Lady Rebels took down West Greene 3-0, 25-19, 25-19, 25-15 on Tuesday at Cosby High School to bring home region gold once again.
“I’m extremely proud of the girls,” South Greene coach Stephen Gregg said. “They played hard and battled adversity. We fell behind in a couple of sets, but we fought back through it. This was a great environment for a regional final, and I think we drew back on the experience we have gained through the season. Our team chemistry has really developed, and it just amazes me how this team has come together.”
Not only has South Greene won nine region championships in a row, but it has won 17 region crowns in the last 18 seasons. With the win the Lady Rebels also earned a home state sectional game on Thursday. They will meet Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences for a chance to go to the state tournament for 18th straight season.
“This is my 17th and I feel blessed to coach this team. But we are not going to take this lightly. We’ll go watch some film, and figure out a game plan. It’s huge to be playing at home. I’ve only had to go on the road one time for this game and I felt uneasy. I’d rather make them come to us and give them that feeling.”
CSAS is the team that ended South Greene’s season in the state tournament a year ago.
“Balance is key word. We talked about it before today. What does each girl bring to balance out our team? We had a great sit down yesterday, talking about that. The times when the wheels got squeaky tonight was when girls were reaching for balls they are not supposed to. We don’t need heroes; we just need everybody steady and ready to do their part.”
West Greene is also moving on to the state sectionals and will travel to Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts on Thursday.
Tuesday’s championship action started with the Lady Buffaloes finding the first advantage at 8-2. In that opening run the Journey Lamons put down three kills and Carleigh Williams had two. That lead grew to 10-3 on a serve from Madi Evans.
After that South Greene got the serve back and Emma Padgett sent over and an ace before Kinley McCaslin smashed a kill from the left side.
The Lady Rebels kept pushing and an ace by Jaelyn Fillers made it 12-12. South Greene took its first lead at 13-12 when McCaslin fired one from the left side.
After Riley Southerland stretched to tip a free ball over the net South Greene led 18-13.
In the closing stretch South Greene got kills from Padgett, McCaslin and Fillers while West Greene kept up with blocks from Lamons and Deborah Julian.
South Greene completed its climb out of a seven-point hole and started its championship bout with a 25-19 win.
“We just had to keep reminding them to control what we can control,” Gregg said. “West Greene came in tonight really wanting to win, you could tell, but our girls played determined. It was a good effort all the way around. We had some girls really step up, and that really made a difference.”
The second set went back and forth early but after Katelyn Begines sent over and ace West Greene was in front 9-7.
Padgett evened the score at 9-9 with a slam from the left side and a back-row kill from McCaslin made it 12-9.
West Greene kept at it with Lamons hammering a ball in the middle, and when Khalie Edwards bounced a swing off the block the set was tied at 13-13.
A missed kill by South Greene put the Lady Buffs back in front, but not for long. Padgett used a heady tip to tie things, and the Lady Rebels went in front 18-14 after Southerland sent over a serve West Greene could not return.
Ava Brobeck killed one from the middle and Fillers found West Greene out of position with a tip that put South Greene in front 21-15.
Julian used a pair of kills late to keep West Greene in it, but Padgett closed South Greene’s 25-19 win by pushing a ball down the net from left to right.
In the third set South Greene started fast and controlled things the whole way. The early lead reached 9-2 after McCaslin landed a kill from the back row.
West Greene used kills from Aleea Aiken and Morgan Moody with a block from Julian to score the next four points.
The Lady Buffaloes kept pace to 16-12, but then Padgett took over. The sophomore came up with five kills in South Greene’s final seven point as the Lady Rebels pulled away for a 25-15 win.
“If we are going to war you want (Padgett) in your foxhole. She’s a battler. Sometimes we have to tone it down in practice because she always brings it,” Gregg said.
Padgett was named the tournament’s MVP while South Greene’s McCaslin, Ella Bailey, and Fillers were named to the Region 1-A All-Tournament team along with West Greene’s Aiken, Lamons, and Emma Gray.
Tuesday started with West Greene defeating District 2-A champion Cosby 3-0 in one semifinal contest. In the other semifinal South Greene defeated Hancock County 3-0.
