BY DAVE LINK
CLASS AAA
MARYVILLE – Maryville (24-16) cleared a big hurdle Wednesday, beating Collierville 3-1 in the winners’ bracket at Rockvale High and going 2-0 at the state tournament for the first time in program history.
The Lady Rebels failed to win back-to-back matches in their previous five trips to state, including 2023 when they went 0-2 and with 3-0 losses to Nolensville and Houston.
And Maryville defeated Collierville for the first time in four state matches, having lost to the Dragons in 2020, ’21, and ’22. This time, Maryville beat Collierville 25-21, 25-20, 19-25, 25-22.
Perhaps the underdog role suits Maryville, which was runner-up to Farragut in District 4-AAA and Region 2-AAA. The Lady Rebels are making their fifth consecutive trip to the state tournament under coach Chris Hames, and for the first time had to go on the road for a sectional match. They defeated Johnson City Science Hill 3-1 in the sectional for a berth in the state tournament, then beat East Hamilton 3-0 Tuesday in the opening round of state.
Hames and the Lady Rebels face Nolensville (37-6) on Thursday at 3 p.m. ET in the winners’ bracket final. Nolensville, located in Williamson County, won Class AA state championships in 2019 and ’20, won the Class AAA state title in 2021, and was state runner-up last year to Cleveland.
FARRAGUT – Farragut (30-6) avoided elimination with a 3-0 victory over Murfreesboro Blackman (19-15) in the losers’ bracket Wednesday at Rockvale High.
The Lady Admirals rallied from a 13-18 deficit in the third set against Blackman and posted a 25-15, 25-22, 25-23 victory. Farragut is making its first state appearance since 2016 when it reached the Class AAA state championship match for the third consecutive season.
The Lady Admirals, who won District 4-AAA and Region 2-AAA titles this year, lost their tournament opener 3-0 to Germantown Houston on Tuesday. In Thursday’s 10:30 a.m. ET losers bracket match, Farragut faces Collierville, which lost to Maryville 3-1 Wednesday.
The Farragut-Collierville winner must win three matches Thursday to reach the championship Friday. Collierville is making its eighth consecutive trip to the Class AAA state tournament and its 18th overall. The Lady Dragons were state runners-up in 2022, losing to Cleveland 3-0 in the final.
CLASS AA
GIBBS v. ANDERSON COUNTY – The Lady Mavs (27-13) kept their season alive with a 3-1 victory over Gibbs in a losers-bracket match at Siegel pitting teams from the 5Star Preps coverage area. AC won 25-11, 19-25, 25-22, 25-17 in its only match against Gibbs this season.
The Lady Mavs are making their third consecutive trip to the state tournament and their 19th overall; they were Class AA state runners-up in 2020 and won a state title in 1999.
Gibbs (24-12) closes out a memorable season, making the state tournament for the first time since the 1999 season. AC will play Thursday at 12:30 p.m. ET in the losers bracket against Creek Wood, which lost to Valor College Prep 3-1 in the winners bracket Wednesday.
The AC-Creek Wood winner must win three matches Thursday to reach the championship Friday. Creek Wood (29-10), of Dickson County, is making its third consecutive appearance in the Class AA state tournament and won the state title in 2022.