Lady Mavs finish in state’s top four
Valor Prep ends ACHS season
Anderson County Head Volleyball Coach Jayme Smith talks strategy with the team during play at the state tournament in Murfreesboro. (photo:Ricky Williams )
The Lady Mavericks, who had high expectations for the 2023 season, finished fourth in the Midstate Dance.
ACHS finished the campaign with a 32-13 record as it was eliminated from the state tournament by Valor College Prep Thursday afternoon at Blackman High School. The Lady Mavericks lost their season finale 25-19, 25-18, 17-25, 25-18.
They opened tournament play with a four-set win over Dyer County, prevailing 25-22, 25-18, 19-25, 25-21 on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
The following day the Lady Mavs fell into the loser’s bracket as they lost in four sets to Creek Wood, in straight sets, 25-22, 25-13, 25-23.
On Thursday morning, Anderson County staved off elimination by knocking off Crockett County, notching a win in four sets, 25-19, 22-25, 25-21, 25-19.
It was another successful season for the Lady Mavericks, who swept through both their district regular-season schedule and postseason tournament. ACHS also won a region tournament title and avenged last year’s state sectional loss to Greeneville.
Despite seeing her team come up a little short of achieving its ultimate goal, Coach Jayme Smith said she was pleased with what the Lady Mavericks accomplished this season.
“We didn’t quite have the magical run to the end of the season,” Smith said.
“But we felt like we achieved more than a state tournament ring.
“We had some great players and a great coaching staff and we played some great teams this year and we competed with them. We really don’t have much to complain about and we have a lot to look forward to in the coming years.
“We’ll miss our seniors, but that’s part of growing up,” she said. “You have them for a few years and then you send them out on their own.”