BLUFF CITY – With its back against the wall the Chuckey-Doak volleyball team stepped up big time on Wednesday night and bought itself a little more time together.
In an elimination game in the District 1-AA volleyball tournament the Lady Black Knights took down Elizabethton 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 26-24), and in doing so extended their season into next week.
“I am so proud of them for executing the game plan. Our back row was executing our passes, my setters were running the front row, and our hitters were putting the ball away,” Chuckey-Doak coach Marissa Snapp said. “They pushed for every single point. We knew what was at stake, we knew our season was on the line. We were ready to go and we wanted it tonight.”
Chuckey-Doak advances to the District 1-AA championship game where it will play Sullivan East on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Bluff City. Chuckey-Doak will have to beat the Lady Patriots twice to win the double-elimination tournament.
“We have come back tomorrow with big aggressive serves, and we have to keep them in bounds,” Snapp said. “We have to mix it up on the front row. Our setters moved around today and that was a big advantage. We have to bring that back tomorrow.”
Wednesday’s win also sends the Lady Black Knights to the Region 1-AA Tournament which will begin next week. Chuckey-Doak has not advanced to the region tournament since 2016.
“It feels so good to be able to extend the season. It feels great to know that not only do we get to keep playing, but we have a chance at the championship,” Snapp said. “That’s something that hasn’t been done in a long time. These girls have showed that they have the fight, the heart, and the talent to get to this point. Now its time to go execute.”
Chuckey-Doak quickly took control of the first set, and in the win-or-go-home match they had Elizabethton playing in its heels. Belle Karriker started the match with a kill from the middle. Jacey Taylor backed the defense up with a slam from the left side, and then she dropped a tip on them. Karriker then made it 4-0 with a block.
Chuckey-Doak’s lead grew to 7-3 after Addy Pruitt landed a kill from the right side and Taylor scored on another tip.
A block by Karriker moved Chuckey-Doak’s lead to 11-6, and then Jayden Myers went to service line and stretched the lead to 17-6. Karriker added another block and a kill in the run. Carlene Bishop put down a kill from the left side and Taylor scored on a kill from the back row.
Ainsley Wampler got the Lady Cyclones going again with a with a kill, but Elizabethton could not put a dent in the lead as the teams traded points on the way to a 25-14 Chuckey-Doak win.
A day after the Lady Black Knights fell into the losers’ bracket by losing to Elizabethton 3-2, they had the Lady Cyclones reeling going into the second set.
“We wanted to come into this with all gas and no breaks,” Snapp said. “We wanted to start strong and then protect that lead at all costs. That allowed us to build momentum.”
In the second set the teams traded points in the early going, but Elizabethton found the first separation at 10-7 after Jasy Shell dropped in an ace.
Chuckey-Doak was able to stay close with Myers pinning a kill in the back corner and Taylor beating the defense with a kill from the back row.
Elizabethton’s biggest lead came at 15-10 when Wampler scored on a tip.
Taylor used a big slam from the left side that went down the line to get Chuckey-Doak going again. The Lady Black Knights followed with another kill from Taylor and two from Karriker to close the gap to 16-14.
Pruitt landed an ace and then used a quick pass to set up Karriker for a big swing from the middle that evened the score at 16-16.
Another ace by Pruitt put Chuckey-Doak on top 19-16.
Bishop used a kill from the left side to put the Lady Black Knights in front 22-18, and from there they collected a 25-21 win to go in front 2-0.
In the third set a kill and a block by Myers put Chuckey-Doak in front 7-4. Two kills from Karriker in the middle extended that lead to 13-8.
Taylor followed with a pair of big swings that left the Lady Cyclones spinning, and a block by Myers gave Chuckey-Doak its biggest lead at 18-12.
Elizabethton fought back, but Karriker scored on a block and then used a big leap to force an altered swing that sailed out of bounds. That put the Lady Black Knights in front 22-17.
Elizabethton was able to tie things at 22-22 after Wampler used a pair of sneaky tips to beat the block.
A missed swing by Chuckey-Doak allowed Elizabethton to take the lead at 24-23, but the Lady Cyclones next serve went into the net.
Elizabethton could not return Macy Church’s serve and appropriately Karriker finished the night with another big block to secure the 26-24 Chuckey-Doak win.
“Belle was amazing and her versatility up front made such a big difference,” Snapp said. “She covers the front row so well, and then executes so well on the attack. Even when its not a big kill they think its going to be a big kill and she backs up the defense.”
Earlier in the evening Sullivan East beat Elizabethton 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-23, 25-13) to earn its spot in Thursday’s championship match.
Chuckey-Doak swept Elizabethton last night to advance to tonight’s District 1-2A Championship and also advance to next week’s Region 1-2A Tournament. Hear the excitement from Coach Marissa Snapp after the Lady Knight victory. pic.twitter.com/LRxeffpL5C
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) October 9, 2025
Chuckey-Doak senior Addy Pruitt will get her first shot at playing for a District Championship tonight after last night’s win over Elizabethton. Hear what she had to say after extending her season further and helping the Lady Black Knights march on. pic.twitter.com/IkkzGA6a2A
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) October 9, 2025
