By Michael Lindsay
The Upperman Lady Bees opened their 2023 Class 2A state volleyball tournament appearance Tuesday morning against the Signal Mountain Lady Eagles, who defeated Baxter in straight sets, 3-0.
“We finished with a loss in 3 sets, but the scores were 25-20,” said Upperman head coach Barbie Cook. “A lot of those were our errors. We can definitely hang, but we have to get all the nerves out. That’s a great team, and we knew they were great. To start like that is not what we wanted, but it’s something we can learn from.
“Kora Bass, our libero, she’s always there and making digs,” Cook added. “Our setter (Shelby Randolph), she was ready to go.”
Signal Mountain won each set 25-20 to advance in the winners’ bracket while Upperman falls to the losers’ bracket of the double-elimination tournament.
Signal Mountain took an early lead over Upperman in the first set before the Lady Bees battled back within 2 points at 18-16. Signal Mountain held off their run to win the first set, 25-20.
Upperman held a 3-point lead halfway through the second set before Signal Mountain again closed out strong to take another 25-20 set victory.
Signal Mountain started the third set strong with a 4-0 lead before Upperman battled back, but the Lady Eagles were ultimately too much as they took the third set by a 25-20 margin to sweep the tournament opener.
Upperman is still alive in the Class 2A state tournament as the Lady Bees will compete Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at Murfreesboro’s Blackman High School against the loser of Valor College Prep and Crockett County.
“We’re going to watch film and focus on what we need to do and what’s coming up,” Cook added.
