Lady Dragons surge with four straight wins in district
After stumbling out of the gate in District 3-AAA play, Clinton High School’s volleyball team is finding its championship form again.
The two-time defending district champion Lady Dragons (13-4 overall, 4-2 district) have rattled off four consecutive league victories, including a pair of sweeps last week.
On Thursday, Clinton overpowered Knoxville Halls on the road 25-8, 25-10, 25-13. The Lady Dragons’ serve was lethal, piling up 13 aces in the win.
“We’re getting better and I’ve had a more-settled lineup,” Clinton Coach Lorri Johnson said. “Some of the younger girls are playing better.”
Parker McGhee finished with nine kills and a block, while Josie Moody had seven kills and 10 assists. Claire Barrett added three kills and three blocks.
On the back row, Jailie Rodd anchored the defense with 15 digs.
“Halls is really struggling right now,” Johnson said. “They’re playing without their best player, and that’s really hard.”
Earlier in the week, Clinton swept Gibbs, a 2024 Class AA state tournament qualifier that moved up to Class AAA this season. The Lady Eagles are in rebuilding mode, and Clinton took advantage, winning 25-16, 25-18, 25-18.
Moody notched a double-double with 13 kills and 13 assists, plus three digs. McGhee tallied 11 kills. Rodd and Kyleigh Gallaher each had 10 digs, while freshman Alaina Stoudenmaier contributed 16 assists and five digs.
Clinton hosted William Blount on Monday, and Oak Ridge on Senior Night Tuesday, but results were not available at press time.
The Lady Dragons return home Thursday to face Knoxville Central in a key district match.
Clinton will look to avenge an early-season loss to the first-place Lady Bobcats.
