The South Greene volleyball team kept the streak alive on Thursday evening, earning its 18th consecutive trip to the state tournament.
The Lady Rebels made quick work of Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences in the Class A State sectionals, earning 3-0 win, 25-21, 25-8, 25-21, that extended the season.
“The nerves got a hold of the girls early, but I think that goes back to how much care they have and the desire they have to be good in this sport,” Gregg said. “But I couldn’t be more proud of them to win 3-0 on this stage. They took care of business tonight and they found a way to win. I can’t brag enough on these girls and the growth they have shown this year. We lost seven seniors from last year, and to pass that torch and be able to continue this tradition is amazing.”
CSAS was the team that ended South Greene’s season in the state tournament last year, and after taking down the Lady Patriots in convincing fashion the Lady Rebels are feeling good heading to Murfreesboro next week.
The Class A State Tournament will begin on Tuesday, October 20 at Rockvale High School in Murfreesboro.
“It feels really good to be going back to state,” South Greene sophomore Emma Padgett said. “We have been working really hard and giving it our all, and I think we are ready. It’s unbelievable to be going with this group of girls, we have had so many girls step up this year to get us here.”
Nerves and the pressure of continuing the state tournament streak showed early on Thursday and the Lady Rebels struggled through much of the first set. But they still figured out a way to start the night with a win.
Kinley McCaslin started the opening set with a soft kill from the right side, but then the Lady Rebels had to rely on CSAS misses to score in the early going.
South Greene did go in front 9-5 after Jillian Freeark sent over an ace and McCaslin found a hole in the defense on a free ball.
CSAS closed the gap to 11-9 when Naomi Williams landed a kill from the middle, and after South Greene missed three straight kills the score was tied at 13-13.
An ace by Maria Fernandez put the Lady Patriots in front for the first time at 14-13.
South Greene regained the lead for good at 19-18 when CSAS put a serve into the net. Ava Brobeck followed with a block and Haylee Bird sent over an ace as the lead grew to 22-18.
In the final stretch Riley Southerland landed an ace and Emma Padgett put down a kill in the 25-21 win.
“If you don’t win the first one doubt trickles in on our side, and hope trickles in on their side. We finally got to doing the things that we can control. Winning that first one even when it was ugly was big.” Gregg said.
While the first set was filled with errors South Greene regrouped and the second set was nothing short of domination from the Lady Rebels.
“We just had to be more aggressive. We were swinging too conservative, even on our serves, in the first set,” Gregg said. “We got our energy up. This is such a momentum sport, and it just takes one hustle play to turn the whole script. I felt like we got several of those hustle plays in that set.”
The set started with three aces from McCaslin and the 6-0 run was kept alive by Ella Bailey making a diving save that turned into a kill from Padgett.
Padgett then slid to the middle of the net and swatted the ball around Williams four times for a quartet of kills that put South Greene in front 16-6. Bird sent over seven serves during the run.
McCaslin closed the set like she was determined to keep her senior season going and hammered four kills in South Greene’s final five points on the way to a 25-8 win.
McCaslin’ performance from both the net and the service line made a big difference on Thursday. The senior transfer will now be going to state for the first time after earning 14 kills and four aces in the win.
“It feels so great as a senior to be going to state. It’s very emotional because I’ve never been, it just feels so great. I feel so blessed and so happy,” McCaslin said. “I was so nervous coming into today, but I knew I had to step up in the second set. I calmed down and told the girls that we have this. It felt so good to get going there.”
CSAS did not go down easy and started the third set with a tip and slam from Harper Sport to take a 3-1 lead.
A pair of kills from McCaslin briefly put South Greene in front 7-6, but then set was tied four times to 12-12.
A big left-side slam from Padgett put South Greene in front and two kills from McCaslin pushed the Lady Rebels advantage to 18-13.
The Lady Patriots applied pressure late, and when Brynne Burkhart landed an ace the gap closed to 20-19.
The next serve went into the next and McCaslin followed with an ace for South Greene.
South Greene finished the night with a 25-21 win that completed the sweep of the team that ended its 2025 campaign.
Last year South Greene went 1-2 in the state tournament and finished in the top six in Class A. They will be looking to better that this year.
