Lorri Johnson’s ‘sweet’ win
Clinton’s Ellie Murrell (21) assists Lanee Carmichael (30) with a block during the Lady Dragons 3-1 win over the Lady Mavericks. With the win, head coach Lorri Johnson notched her 600th varsity victory and the Lady Dragons improved to 10-5 overall (4-0 AAA District 3). (photo:Tony Cox )
Clinton High School’s veteran girls volleyball coach won her 600th game as a varsity high school coach as the Lady Dragons notched a four-set victory over crosstown rival Anderson County at ACHS.
The Lady Dragons achieved a comeback win over the Lady Mavericks, prevailing 21-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-20.
Clinton not only helped its coach achieve a monumental victory, but the Lady Dragons also snapped a long losing streak against the Lady Mavericks.
“I wasn’t sure if Clinton had ever beaten AC before, but (Anderson County’s longtime assistant coach) Dail (Cantrell) said that Clinton had beaten Anderson County before, but (the) 1996-97 (school year) was the last time,” said Johnson, who. before taking the CHS head coaching job, coached at Clinton Middle School. “This was my 600th win as a varsity head coach.
“It doesn’t count middle school, club, or times when I was just hanging around and helping coach. It goes all the way back to when I coached at South-Young in the early ’80s. This one was sweet.”
Johnson, who attended Norris High School and graduated in 1976, was the head coach at Knoxville Central High School and Knoxville Christian School before returning to Anderson County to take the reins of the Lady Hawks’ program.
A milestone win is always a joyous occasion, but this one was even more special for Johnson. Not only did it come against the Lady Mavericks, but her high school volleyball coach, Rita Hackler, a trailblazer for the sport, was in attendance.
“I’ve been doing this a long time and this one was sweet,” Johnson said. “My volleyball coach was here and she was highlighted as a pioneer in the TSSAA.
“I played at Norris and we had an all-star league before volleyball was sanctioned by the TSSAA.”
Norris and Lake City high schools (which both closed when Anderson County opened) were a part of the all-star league, along with Clinton and Oak Ridge.
Against the Lady Mavs Monday night, the Lady Dragons put together a stellar overall team effort on the road.
Josie Moody finished the match with 14 kills, 15 assists, 20 digs and one service ace.
Riley Owens had eight kills, 13 digs and two aces.
Lanee Carmichael chipped in with nine kills, three digs and two assists.
Tomi Taylor contributed five digs, five assists and two kills.
Keagan Skaggs recorded 15 assists, six digs and two aces, while Darbi Brummett posted nine kills, four digs and one block. Zavie Ford had 11 digs and two aces.
Ellie Murrell came up with three kills, five blocks and two digs. McKenzie Crisp had 15 aces, four assists and three aces, and Jailie Rodd scored nine service points and had two digs.