By Michael Lindsay
With the fall 2023 sports season approaching, 16 Tennessee volleyball programs converged onto Crossville’s Stone Memorial High School Saturday for the 2023 Upper Cumberland Queens of the Court volleyball playday.
“We started putting this together back in November,” said Stone Memorial volleyball coach Tori Permenter. “We were able to get 15 other teams and it’s been booked since January. The coaches have been amazing, and I have to give credit to my team’s parents; they’ve been awesome.”
Along with Stone Memorial, Upper Cumberland teams at the event included Clarkrange, Cumberland County, Gordonsville, Smith County, White County and York Institute.
“It’s a huge advantage to see other teams play and see their strategies,” Permenter said. “It’s good to get the jitters out. Our district is tough, so we’re trying to get those jitters out.”
Non-UC teams included Cherokee, Warren County, South Doyle, Austin-East, Central, Lincoln County, Meigs County, Pigeon Forge and Claiborne County.
The playday has grown from 10 teams in 2022 to 16 in 2023, and Permenter hopes for a bigger turnout in 2024.
“If you weren’t here this year, come out next year,” she said. “We’re trying to grow this and hope to have 24 teams next year. Our facilities are perfect for this and I think it’s a great event.”
The 2023 volleyball regular season in Tennessee opens Monday, Aug. 14.
