Lady ‘Topper Artillery Shells Tennessee High for District 1-AAA Title (2024)

JOHNSON CITY – The Science Hill Lady Hilltoppers leave nothing to risk when it comes to conflict on the volleyball court.

Featuring a fully stocked offense with a threat at every spot on the floor, Science Hill fought through a tough Tennessee High front for a 25-22, 17-25, 25-22, 25-16 conquest of the Lady Vikings Thursday evening in the District 1-AAA championship game.

It’s the fourth district title in five years for Science Hill (34-5) which finished runner-up a year ago.

Chelsea Blaine chalked up 17 kills on the night with Lees-McRae commit Addi Stables racking up 15 from the middle, outside and the back row as well.

“(Science Hill) coach (Laura) Cook has always made that point to have weapons everywhere,” said Stables. “As long as we have our artillery everywhere we should be fine.”

Even setter Ella Neal is a threat as noted by her seven well-placed dinks. Neal also came up with 16 digs while dishing out 51 assists to earn Tournament Most Valuable Players honors.

“It feels awesome,” said Neal. “I couldn’t do it without everyone on my team. I think all the hard work we’ve put into this season is really paying off.”

Stables was named to the all-tournament team along with Campbell Hixson and Blaine.

“Having so many weapons on our team is really a blessing,” added Stables. “Stretching it out and running antenna to antenna and Ella knowing exactly what decisions to make at the perfect time. She sees the court, she sees an open spot and knows exactly who to give it to. Amazing.”

Neal totaled 132 assists in the tournament, moving her career total to 2,734.

“Ella has really emerged as a huge offensive threat with the way she runs the offense, the way she finishes,” noted Cook. “She had a big single block that was huge. Her selection of who to set and when is so good right now. She’s really, really leading this team. She has been so much fun to watch.”

Bryleigh Scott had one of her strongest efforts of the season, putting down tenn kills.

“Bryleigh is really trying to find her shots,” Cook said. “She’s got that really good, hard cross that worked good tonight. A couple of times I thought Ella was going to Chelsea (Blaine), but boom, it went to Byleight on a little back set and she was wide open right there.”

Chloe Conner and Clara McBride chipped in with six kills apiece. Everyone though, feeds off the strength of Blaine in the middle.

“They have to stay on her and it creates holes for our outsides and right sides,” Neal said.

Science Hill ambushed the Lady Vikings early, quickly assuming a 15-8 first set lead. Tennessee High weathered the early attack and fought back to within one with a 6-0 capped by a Faith Hayes kill and Bree Adams ace.

Ashton Blair’s kill and a Lady ‘Topper error gave Tennessee High its first lead at 20-19. Deadlocked at 21-21, Science Hill took four of the last five points starting with Connor’s tip that tipped the net and fell over and an ace by the methodical serving Hixson. Blaine and Scott finished off the set with kills.

Strong play from Tennessee High’s Sophie Stallcup and slew of Science Hill errors led to an easy Lady Viking win in the second. An incredible shot by Adams and a tomahawk in the middle by Erin Littleton brought Tennessee High even in the match.

It was the first set taken off Science Hill on the Lady ‘Toppers home floor all season.

“Overall, we started a little nervous I think,” said Tennessee High coach Carley Williams, “Once they started communicating and moving their feet, then I can coach them a little more. Once they are in the game I can help them with hitting their shots. They came out here wanting to win and that was the difference from the last time we played them.”

Science Hill’s artillery was on full display during one stretch late in the third set. Ahead 19-16, the Lady ‘Toppers got a Stables kill on the outside off serve receive by Hixson.

“I think Ella saw that Chelsea had a triple block and she played it smart and saw that I had a shorter right side on me,” explained Stables. She gave me a high four ball instead of a go that we were running. We switched up the play, I told her I needed a higher ball and she produced.”

Stables followed with an ace, with kills then coming from McBride and Conner.

“The first two sets our blocking wasn’t very strong,” noted Neal. “Stepping up our blocking in those last two games and making sure I was pushing the ball out to all my hitters because their blocking game was very strong and enable them to see the whole court is really crucial.”

Shortly thereafter Blaine and Scott produced kills before Neal, running a slide to Blaine, alertly dumped to an open spot instead.

“I just saw an opening on the court and put it down,” smiled Neal.

It was something Neal did six other times on the evening as well.

“Their libero (Addy Gentry) is very, very strong so I don’t dump as much, but whenever their middles are back row, that’s usually a time I can dump.”

The fourth set was highlighted by Neal’s block to give Science hill a 9-5 lead. Stables followed with another to make it 11-6.

Science Hill stretched its lead to 18-9 on five straight Hixson service points that included one of her three aces.

Hixson also came up with 16 digs, Stables brought up 28 and Avery Bragg added 14.

Zoey Phillips paced the Lady Vikings (29-10) with nine kills. The balanced attack saw Blair, Hayes and Littleton all produced eight kills. Sophie Stallcup chipped in with six kills to go with three blocks and two aces. Littleton and Hayes both notched a pair of blocks as well.

“We had some really strong blocks tonight,” said Williams. “We had some that weren’t so strong and it hit off and were funky and were hard to defend.”

Bree Adams was stellar again with 32 assists, 11 digs, three kills and two aces. Adams took over full setter responsibilities in a 5-1 attack earlier in the season after a Lady Viking injury.

“Bree has experience in that,” noted Williams. “The more hitters you have typically the better, super beneficial, particularly in high school, but Bree has done a great job. She’s blocking, being active as a setter. She’s making great plays.”

Gentry brought up 19 digs for the Lady Vikings with Blair picking up 18. Gentry, Adams and Stallcup were all named to the all-tournament team.

Both teams advance to next week’s Region 1 Tournament. Sevier County won the District 2 title with two victories over Cocke County, beating the Lady Red 27-25, 25-17, 25-17 in the first match and then taking the if necessary match 25-14, 25-5, 18-25, 23-25, 15-9.

Sevier County should announce the format on Friday, but the Bearettes will face Tennessee High in one semi final with Science Hill facing Cocke County in the other. It’s the first-ever regional tournament appearance for the Lady Red.

“This is a huge accomplishment,” noted Williams. “Getting out of this district is huge. Our season is still going to continue and we have to stay positive.

“We are very optimistic as far as continuing on. They are still in positive spirits and ready to go. We can see them (Science Hill) again next week and show them that same team and it can be a whole different game.”

2024 District 1-AAA All-Tournament Team
MVP - Ella Neal, Science Hill
Chelsea Blaine, Science Hill
Addi Stables, Science Hill
Campbell Hixson, Science Hill
Addy Gentry, Tennessee High
Sophie Stallcup, Tennessee High
Bree Adams, Tennessee High
Mela Brice, Dobyns-Bennett
Nora Shook, Dobyns-Bennett
Addison Dietz, Daniel Boone

Lady ‘Topper Artillery Shells Tennessee High for District 1-AAA Title (2024)
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