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Lady Senators Win Norris Dam Championship

The Norris Middle School Volleyball Team successfully defending its Norris Dam Volleyball Tournament Championship in dominating fashion.

The eight-team tournament held at Anderson County High School began with pool play where NMS went undefeated beating Lake City 25-4, 25-14 in their first match.

The Lady Hawks from Clinton Middle were next on the Lady Senator’s list and NMS plucked them by scores of 25-8, 25-13.

The final pool play opponent was a veteran team from Seymour who the Lady Senators handled easily 25-12, 25-15. The win took Norris to 3-0 in pool play and a first place seed in the single elimination bracket.

The semifinal match featured Norris playing Jefferson Middle School from Oak Ridge. The team had met the week before and Jefferson had won the first set before NMS squeaked out a two sets to one victory.

That success was on the Lady Eagles mind Saturday at the start of the semifinals as Jefferson jumped out to a 5-0 lead and forced NMS Coach Jeff Harshbarger to call an early timeout. After the stoppage in play, NMS Libero Leah Freeman served up three points for Norris including an ace to bring the score to 5-3.

The teams see-sawed back and forth until Freeman returned to serve three more points and another ace. After a quick timeout and sideout by Jefferson, the Lady Senators took control on the serves of Sadie Alvis who served seven points and two aces to vault NMS into a commanding 22-12 lead.

Twin sister Kylie Alvis finished serving out the set to a 25-14 Lady Senator victory.

Set number two started like the first with both teams trading points until Norris leaped ahead on the wicked serves of Emily Varner who finished with six points and two aces for the match. Right side hitter Erin Cantrell finished off the Lady Eagles with two aces of her own.

The victory advanced Norris to the championship for the third straight year, this time against Holston Middle School from upper East Tennessee. Holston entered the finals undefeated in pool play as well.

The finals, however, were never in doubt as a determined and talented NMS team took control of set one early on the pinpointing setting of Kylie Alvis and the big net play of middle hitters Jayce Braden and Allie Ammons.

The Lady Senators rolled to a set one victory 25-12.

Set number 2 was no closer as Norris clinched its second straight Norris Dam Tournament Championship winning 25-12. Strong service games from Emily Varner (eight points), Sadie Alvis (nine points, one ace), and Erin Cantrell (five points, one ace).

The Lady Senator’s record now stands at eight wins and no losses on the year.

The next big test for Norris will come on Saturday, Sept. 8 as area teams descend on Pigeon Forge for the Rocky Top Classic.