PHOTO GALLERY: Heritage at Hardin Valley

Heritage flexed its muscles in showing why it’s one of the strongest volleyball teams in East Tennessee, sweeping host Hardin Valley Academy 25-18, 25-13, 25-11 on Monday night.

The Mountaineers (22-5) rallied from an early 10-8 deficit in taking the opening set by seven points. The visitors staked themselves to a 14-4 upper hand before scoring eight of the second set’s final 10 points to go up 2-0. The Hawks (11-9) notched the first two points of the third set but the visitors countered with the next seven. Heritage finished the match in premium fashion with seven unanswered points.

Kailey Keeble led the Mountaineers statistically with 16 assists and seven kills. Ashelyn Vandergriff contributed 10 kills. Lexi Patty dug 16 balls. Kaci McBurnett had five blocks.

The opening round of the double-elimination 3-AAA tournament gets underway at Maryville High School on Monday. The second round commences at Farragut on Tuesday. Top-seeded Heritage has an opening-round bye and faces the winner of Maryville and William Blount.

The Mountaineers have their Senior Night on Tuesday and host Webb School of Knoxville. Hardin Valley’s regular-season finale is versus Farragut on Thursday afternoon.