On Tuesday afternoon the Chuckey-Doak volleyball will make history when it steps on the court at the state tournament for the first time in program history, and a few hours before that the South Greene volleyball will continue a long-established legacy when it begins play in its 20th state tournament.
For the Lady Black Knights raising the level of the program to a point where it could challenge for a spot in the state tournament has been coach Marissa Snapp’s focus over the last three years. But Snapp is quick to credit her players for buying to what she has asked of them and carrying that over to game day.
“These girls have really put in the work over the last three years and we have grown together,” Snapp said. “All of their hard work has paid off, and now we have a chance at a state championship. They get to see that the effort they have put in is working and that they are growing as players.”
Chuckey-Doak will open the Class AA State Tournament with its biggest test yet as it takes on Creek Wood at 2:30 p.m. central time at Rockvale High School in Murfreesboro. The Lady Red Hawks are appearing in their fourth consecutive state tournament and have been in the final four each of the last three years, including a state championship in 2022.
Creek Wood advanced to this year’s state tournament by defeating Fairview for the District 11-AA title, Lexington for the Region 6-AA title and Hume Fogg in the state sectionals.
The Lady Red Hawks enter the tournament with a 33-9 record and will be led by a pair of heavy hitters in outside hitter Abby Baker and middle hitter Avery Bratton.
“I’m excited to go into the state tournament and see what we can do,” Snapp said. “I think it was big to see that they could control the match against Seymour. I think they saw how good they could be against a good team, and that will be important going forward.”
Chuckey-Doak advances to its first state tournament as the District 1-AA, and Region 1-AA runner up. The Lady Knights swept Seymour in the state sectionals.
Also returning to this year’s Class AA State Tournament bracket is defending state champion Valor Prep as well as 2024 runner up Dyer County.
In the Class A State Tournament South Greene has been a familiar name on the bracket in recent years. The Lady Rebels have participated in the last 13 Class A State Tournaments, and is extending their overall consecutive state tournament streak to 17 years.
Coach Stephen Gregg has been at the helm for 16 of those consecutive trips to Murfreesboro and crossed the 500 win mark in the final week of the regular season.
“It took a lot of tenacity and grit to get to this point, and that is what this program is founded on,” Gregg said. “We lost five great seniors from a year ago, and to continue to pass that torch year to year is really impressive. It means a lot to these girls to represent that name on their chest, and it means that this community supports them the way they do.”
South Greene enters the state tournament after beating West Greene in both the District 1-A and Region 1-A championship games. The Lady Rebels then beat Chattanooga School of Liberal Arts in a five-set thriller to clinch their state tournament berth.
The Lady Rebels will open the Class A State Tournament at 12 p.m. central time at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro against Gibson County.
Gibson County is no stranger to the state tournament stage and will be making its fourth consecutive trip to Murfreesboro, but the Lady Pioneers are 0-6 all-time in state tournament play. In 2023 they were eliminated by the Rebels, 3-1. That is the only set they have won at the state tournament.
Gibson County comes into the tournament with a 27-12 record, compared to the Lady Rebels 18-13 mark.
Gibson County advanced to the state tournament by beating Union City in the District 13-A and Region 7-A championship games. It then beat Memphis Middle College in the state sectionals.
Joining South Greene in the Class A bracket are some familiar names in Summertown, Eagleville and Chattanooga School for Arts And Sciences. Also in the field is a 24-1 Gordonsville team that is making its first state tournament appearance.
