Lady Mavs sweep way to Murfreesboro
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Sophomore setter Bethany Lowe is one of several young impact players on the 2024 Lady Mavericks squad. The Lady Mavericks defeated Seymour and North View Academy to secure a trip to the 2024 TS- SAA state tournament. - Tony Cox
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Sophomores Emerie Bullock and Julia Owens play during the Lady Mavericks’ district tournament matchup. Bullock has seen heavy action as the team’s libero all season long. Both are among the talented young players on the 2024 team. - Tony Cox
Another season means another trip to Murfreesboro for the Anderson County High School volleyball team.
The Lady Mavericks secured their spot in the Class AA state tournament with a state sectional victory at home.
Anderson County wrapped up a productive week with a 25-16, 25-18, 25-20 sweep of Elizabethton, which reached the state sectionals for the first time in five years.
The Lady Mavericks, one of the area’s youngest teams, endured some growing pains early in the 2024 season.
But they cruised through the postseason, winning the District 4-AA tournament as the No. 2 seed against top-seeded and regular-season co-champion Alcoa.
ACHS (26-12) also swept its way through the Region 2-AA tournament with victories over Seymour (25-21, 25-11, 25-12) and Northview Academy (25-14, 25-8, 25-16).
The Lady Mavs played all of their postseason matches at home.
ACHS played a challenging 2024 schedule, competing in some of the toughest venues to prepare for the postseason.
The regular season matches included contests against Class AAA state tournament qualifier Farragut (29-5), District 3-AAA champion Clinton (34-11), District 3-AAA runner-up Oak Ridge, District 4-AAA semifinalist Bearden, and Division II-AA State quarterfinalist Webb School of Knoxville.
All of that competition clearly paid off.
“Our girls are playing so well, and our two seniors (Alyssa Meier and Shelby Kelly) have become our leaders,” Anderson County Coach Jayme Smith said. “These young girls, I don’t want to say they’re playing above their ability because they all have the ability, but they’re playing extremely well, and they’re just doing phenomenally.
“They’re all playing well, and we’re just having so much fun.”
The Lady Mavericks were set to open at Siegel High School in the state tournament, which is a double-elimination format. Their first match Tuesday was against Signal Mountain (22-13). Results were not available at press time.