MURFREESBORO – South Greene (15-10) came up short to familiar foe Summertown (35-14) in season-ending sweep (25-18, 25-11, 25-18) Thursday morning in the Class 1A State Tournament.
After a long season with many ups and many downs, the Lady Rebels ended their season in the same place they’ve ended it the past 16 seasons, Murfreesboro. It was a long road to get back to the Class 1A State Tournament. Many of South Greene’s long-standing win streaks over certain opponents were snapped, they fell below .500 in the regular season, did not have a set home venue to play at due to circumstances out of their hands, but still found a way to win six-straight in the postseason to claim the District 1-A and Region 1-A championships and reach their 16th-straight state tournament.
“We’ve had a tough road of adversity all year. That will prepare them for life because adversity hits us everyday. Life is 10% what happens and 90% how you react,” South Greene coach Stephen Gregg said.
The Lady Rebels played competitive at times in Thursday’s battle, but Summertown’s ability to put together long runs played a factor in the loss. Runs of 14-straight, 13-straight, and two runs of six-straight put South Greene in holes they couldn’t climb out of.
“I felt like we were in every set we’d just get a bad break here or there,” Gregg mentioned. “That’s the way it goes sometimes. This is a momentum sport. It feels good when you have the momentum, but you can lose it in one play. I’m proud of them for continuing to fight.”
Both teams are no strangers to each other or this stage for that matter. Summertown won the state championships in 2022 & 2019 and finished runner-up in 2021 to the Lady Rebels. The 2021 title game was their last meeting when South Greene squeaked out an exciting five-set victory. The Lady Eagles knocked off South Greene in 2019’s tournament before going on to win the championship. South Greene also swept Summertown in the 2014 and 2015 tournaments.
The first set leaned in South Greene’s favor through the first half with a 12-6 lead. That quickly changed once the Lady Eagles embarked on a run of 14-straight to create a 20-12 lead before winning the set 25-18.
Abbie Jo Shaffer was key in Summertown’s dominant runs. She racked up nine kills in the first set alone and ended up with 25 total at game’s end.
Davanie Tarleton and Baylee Jennings helped provide four kills and three kills respectively in the first set.
The second set was tight with South Greene trailing 11-9. Summertown quickly went on another back-breaking run of 13-straight to go ahead 24-9 and end the set with a 25-11 win.
Shaffer broke the 10-kill mark with an even 10 in the second set. Tarleton had 5 kills that served as almost half of South Greene’s second-set points.
Summertown’s runs in the third set were minimized to six points on two occasions, but it was still enough to keep South Greene grounded. Tarleton did most of the heavy-hitting again and provided eight kills in the third set along with Addison Compton’s two.
Shaffer again led the Lady Eagles with six kills in the set but had more help from Amelia Emerson with four kills.
South Greene’s season came to an end after their 25-18 loss in the third set. They end the season with a record of 15-10 and claimed the District 1-A and Region 1-A championships.
“It’s the toughest thing you have to do as a coach is have that last talk with a team. I hate to see them go already. They’ve overachieved and they’ve led by example and had great leadership. Just a great group of girls. You don’t want it to end this way, but at least we did get back to state,” Coach Gregg said.
Seniors Faith Baughard, Tarleton, Compton, Jennings, and Ryleigh Gregg leave the program as seniors.
“Davanie is one of the best middles to ever graduate through here. She had a great day today blocking and hitting. With the ability to lead, I feel like her and Addison Compton have been great leaders all season long. Faith Baughard has came a long ways. Just getting minimal time last year to earning that backline leader role. Baylee Jennings is another one we’re so proud of. She’s had to play different positions every year she’s been here. Ryleigh was always steady. She kept the ball alive and was really coming on there at the tail end and was hitting for more power,” Coach Gregg spoke.
Summertown was led by Abbie Jo Shaffer with a game-high 25 kills. Amelia Emerson had eight and Elizabeth Garland had four. Emerson led them in service with three aces.
Tarleton led the Lady Rebels with 15 kills and Jennings added five.
