Monday, August 19, 2013

Breaking down District 14-AA volleyball


We continue our look today at high school volleyball in West Tennessee with the second of three Class AA districts.

District 14-AA has been one of the most competitive over the past couple of seasons. Chester County has won the last four district championships, but none were easy or blowouts.

The district lost two teams to District 15-AA – Liberty and Jackson Central-Merry – but Bolivar added the sport this season.

Teams:

Bolivar

Chester County

Fayette-Ware

Lexington

McNairy Central

South Side
 

Bolivar

The Lady Tigers enter into their inaugural season in one of the toughest districts in the area. Bolivar is a younger team with many of the key players being sophomores, so look for this team to improve as the season goes on.

Kiya Sain played last year at South Side, and she should be the leader on the court for the Lady Tigers.

Chester County

The Eaglettes look to win a fifth consecutive district title this season, but after losing four starters, it will be tough.

Chester County graduated Cynthia Beene, The Jackson Sun’s 2012 Player of the Year, along with Annsley Poston, Jana Frye and Natalie Clayton.

Katelyn Faulkner returns as a starting setter and Madison Cherry-Reed should help her getting the ball to the hitters.

Presley Robinson and Madison McCaskill will be the go-to hitters.

Fayette-Ware

The Lady Wildcats have struggled through recent seasons. Being in such a tough district is hard on teams trying to grow and find needed wins.

Lexington

The Lady Tigers graduated the two top hitters from last season in Andrea Moffitt and Caylee Burnine.

This will be a young Lexington team with freshmen playing key roles.

Candace Maness returns at libero after missing last season due to an ACL injury. Kellie Hays also returns at setter. Time will tell how good this team can be.

McNairy Central

The Lady Bobcats were hit hard by graduation after last season.

McNairy Central returns two starters from last season and both will be seniors this year. Brianna Bodiford and Addison King will be the players to watch out for on this team.

South Side

The Lady Hawks reached the region semifinals last season before losing to Dyersburg.

South Side returns three starters from last season, but lost all of their top hitters.

The Tiplers are gone, but Jessica Neff returns at setter for her senior year, and she is one the brink of becoming the program’s all-time assist leader.

Junior Shelby Bradford returns on the backline, and freshman Shea Dean will need to step in on the front line.

Predicted order of finish:

1. South Side

2. Chester

3. Lexington

4. McNairy Central

5. Fayette-Ware

* Bolivar is not playing a full district schedule, so the Lady Tigers will not play in the district tournament.


District semifinals: South Side vs. McNairy Central; Chester County vs. Lexington

District championship: Chester County vs. South Side

District champion: South Side


Region semifinals: South Side vs. Dyersburg; Crockett County vs. Chester County

Region championship: Crockett County vs. Dyersburg

Region champion: Crockett County

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