Lady Dragons win volleyball title
Clinton libero Mckenzie Crisp (24) passes the serve during the Lady Dragons’ rivalry match against Oak Ridge in the Donnie Dome on Thursday, Sept. 26. (photo:Ellie Hatmaker )
The Lady Dragons, who have now clinched their second-consecutive District 3-AAA regular-season championship, suffered a tough five-set loss in a rivalry match at home Monday night.
Clinton (31-10), which has set a school record for wins this season with two regular-season matches remaining, couldn’t get past crosstown rival Anderson County.
The Lady Mavericks won 25-21, 25-27, 23-25, 25-21, 15-11 at Don W. Lockard Gymnasium.
The Lady Mavericks avenged last year’s loss to Clinton with Monday night’s victory.
Clinton junior Josie Moody had 14 kills and 21 digs in the marathon match, while sophomore Parker McGhee continued her strong second half of the season with 14 kills and six aces. Lanee Carmichael also contributed with 14 kills.
The loss followed a busy week for the Lady Dragons, who competed in the State Line Slam at Tennessee High in Bristol over the weekend.
Clinton notched wins over Sullivan East (25-20, 25-23), Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett (25-16, 19-25, 15-9), and Webb School of Knoxville (25-21, 24-26, 15-11).
“Those were all big wins for us,” Clinton Coach Lorri Johnson said. “But we didn’t quite make it to the finals.”
Moody recorded nine kills against Dobyns-Bennett and 16 kills with 11 digs against Webb. McGhee had seven kills, five aces, and two blocks in the win over Webb. She also contributed 14 kills and one block against Sullivan East.
Clinton suffered two losses to Daniel Boone.
The Lady Dragons dropped the first match 25-12, 25-16, with Carmichael and McGhee each posting four kills. McGhee also added two blocks.
In the second match, the Lady Dragons lost 25-17, 25-23, despite McGhee’s six kills and three blocks.
On Thursday, Clinton defeated rival Oak Ridge in straight sets (25-19, 26-24, 28-26).
McGhee had eight kills, five aces, and two blocks. Keagan Skaggs contributed 22 assists.
On Sept. 24, Clinton outlasted Powell in five sets (25-19, 14-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-13) at Jeff Hunter Gymnasium in Northwest Knox County.
Moody led the team with 26 kills, while McGhee added eight kills and three aces. Ellie Murrell finished with six kills.
Skaggs and McKenzie Crisp were Clinton’s top passers, with Skaggs recording 27 assists and Crisp adding 20.
Clinton started the week with another five-set victory, this time against Bearden, winning 25-21, 16-25, 25-14, 21-25, 20-18.
Carmichael had 14 kills and four aces. Moody added 10 kills, six blocks, 24 digs, and 18 assists.
McGhee posted eight kills, seven blocks, four digs, and three aces.
Murrell tallied seven kills, 10 blocks, and two digs.