Tharptown takes down area rival Belgreen in four sets

Sep 9

The Tharptown High School varsity volleyball team secured a valuable Class 2A Area 14 win on the road at rival Belgreen High School on Tuesday night. The Tharptown victory improved the Lady Wildcats to 1-1 in area play.

“I just could not be any more proud of them,” first-year Tharptown head coach Lori Huffaker said of her players after the win. “They have worked really hard, and they have come such a long way since the beginning of the season. The improvement is just off the charts.”

THS got off to a hot start and used that initial momentum to carry them to a 25-20 victory in set one. The Lady Wildcats started set two off strong, as well, but communication issues hurt the visitors and allowed the hosts back into it; Belgreen came from behind to win the second set 25-21.

Despite the setback for Tharptown in set two, the Lady Wildcats, once again, came out with energy for a very important set three.

“That’s the game of volleyball—it does not take long for the tables to turn,” Huffaker said. “I was super proud of them for not giving up and battling back after being down in that one set.”

Tharptown was in control for a majority of the third set and took a lead as high as nine points late in the match. THS forced Belgreen to take a timeout when the score was 19-10, and the Lady Wildcats went on to win the third set 25-18.

In the fourth set—what would prove to be the final set—Tharptown continued the running theme and jumped out to a 7-0 lead before Belgreen earned a point. The Lady Bulldogs used that to gain a foothold in the set and closed the gap to 9-7 before THS was forced into a timeout.

Whatever Huffaker told her team during the break worked, though. Tharptown went on a 14-8 run to close the contest out, taking the set 25-15 and the all-important area match 3-1.

“It’s a big win,” Huffaker told the Franklin Free Press.

“I don’t even think they realize how important it is,” she added as her players celebrated behind her.

“I think they played well together as a team tonight. They’re keeping their spirits up and keeping a good attitude. They’re getting that fire about them and they’re getting a taste of victory. They like it and they want more.”

Tharptown and Belgreen, who dropped to 0-2 in area play, will both play their next varsity matches at the Belgreen-hosted Bulldog Bash tournament on Saturday, September 13.