New Volleyball Elite 8 (8/27)

Here is the new poll after a Week 1 full of action:

1. TCA (3-0) – The Lady Lions beat three Class AA teams in the opening week of the season. Last week: No. 2

2. USJ (2-1) – The Lady Bruins split a pair of region games and beat Scotts Hill in Week 1. Last week: No. 3

3. South Side (7-2) – The Lady Hawks played nine matches in the first week and suffered just two losses with one coming to a Division II-A team out of Nashville. Last week: No. 5

4. Madison (5-2) – The Lady Mustangs are off to a hot start after reaching the semifinal round of the FHU Tournament. Last week: No. 6

5. Chester County (4-1) – The Eaglettes have not played up to their potential in the early. Key is that the season is young, and there is plenty of time for improvement. Last week: No. 1

6. Crockett County (4-6) – The Lady Cavaliers went and played in a tough tournament at Smyrna over the weekend and went 1-5, but the tougher competition should only make the team better. Last week: No. 5

7. Lexington (6-3) – The Lady Tigers were a double-edged sword this week. They played great during the week, starting 6-0. But then they got the FHU Tournament and went 0-3. Last week: No. 8

8. South Gibson (4-3) – The Lady Hornets made program history in reaching the semifinals of the FHU Tournament. Two of the three losses so far are against a tough Dyersburg team. Last week: Unranked

Fell out: Milan (4-6)

How did the Volleyball Elite 8 perform in Week 1

1. Chester County (4-1) – Beat Scotts Hill 3-0; Beat JCM 3-0; Beat Fayette Academy 2-0; Beat Crawley’s Ridge (Ark.) 2-1; Lost to Madison 2-0

2. TCA (3-0) – Beat Milan 2-0; Beat South Side 2-0; Beat Crockett County 3-1

3. USJ (2-1) – Beat Scotts Hill 3-0; Lost to Harding Academy 3-2; Beat Lausanne 3-1

4. South Side (7-2) – Beat Madison 2-1; Beat Hardin County 2-0; Beat Milan 2-0; Lost to TCA 2-0; Beat Hardin County 2-0; Beat Camden Christian 2-0; Beat Dyer County 2-0; Beat Milan 2-1; Lost to Ezell-Harding 2-0

5. Crockett County (4-6) – Beat Halls 3-0; Beat Haywood 3-0; Lost to TCA 3-1; Beat Gibson County 3-0; Beat USN; Lost to Riverdale; Lost to Portland; Lost to Summit; Lost to Cookeville; Lost to Friendship Christian

6. Madison (5-2) – Lost to South Side 1-1; Beat Hardin County 2-0; Beat Riverside 3-0; Beat Crawley’s Ridge (Ark.) 2-1; Beat Fayette Academy 2-0; Beat Chester County 2-0; Lost to Ezell-Harding 2-1

7. Milan (4-5) – Beat Gibson County 3-0; Beat Gibson County 3-0; Lost to TCA 2-0; Lost to South Side 2-0; Beat Halls 2-0; Lost to Lexington 2-0; Lost to Ezell-Harding 2-0; Lost to South Side 2-1; beat Dyer County 2-0

8. Lexington (6-3) – Beat South Gibson 3-2; Beat Riverside 3-0; Beat Fayette-Ware 3-0; Beat Fayette-Ware 3-0; Beat Halls 2-0; Beat Milan 2-0; Lost to Scotts Hill 2-1; Lost to Dyersburg 2-0; Lost to South Gibson 2-1

Preseason H.S. Volleyball Elite 8

The high school volleyball season begins today. Here are my picks for the Elite 8 teams in West Tennessee:

1. Chester County – The Eaglettes will tough this year with three key returners. Cynthia Beene is one of the top defenders in the area, Jana Frye is experienced at setter and Annsley Poston really came on as a hitter last season. Chester County made its first-ever trip to state last year and has the potential to make another trip this year.

2. TCA –The Lady Lions finished fourth in Class A last year. TCA loses a key piece of that team in setter Kara Crenshaw, but the Lady Lions should be able to rebound. Hannah Grider, Peyton Wright and Clare Taylor return to the front line as the go-to hitters.

3. USJ – The Lady Bruins are under Kimberly McNeal for a second season, and USj should be much improved. USJ will miss the hitting of Zuzanna Wojtas, but Andrea Arreaza and Sally Sikes should step right in for the kills.

4. South Side – The Lady Hawks have one of the top setter-hitter combinations in Jessica Neff and Stephanie Tipler. Tommy Dean always has South Side ready to play especially when the postseason gets here.

5. Crockett County – The Lady Cavaliers will be a scrappy team this season with no dominating hitter. Crockett County has boasted the last three Jackson Sun Hitter of the Year in Jasmine Johnson, Anna Rogers and Brandi Massey. Setter Savannah Pillow will be the key to the success.

6. Madison – The Lady Mustangs return just two starters off last year’s team in hitters Amelia McLemore and Edie Buchanan. Madison should improve as the season progresses with experience.

7. Milan – The Lady Bulldogs continue to improve and should battle for the No. 1 seed in the District 13-AA tournament. Milan will miss the hitting of Cassidy Sheppard, but Morgan King and Binetou Ndiaye should pick up some of the slack. Caitlyn Brown will distribute the ball at setter.

8. Lexington – Lexington was hit hard this season by graduation and injuries. Andrea Moffitt will be key on the attack with Kellie Brooke Hayes as the setter. The Lady Tigers will be another team that improves as the season progress and will look to be in top form come postseason.