Division I-A Crown: Eagleville Defenses Way past Merrol Hyde

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Editor's Notes: Do you want to get in front of Prep Dig Scouts? This is one big way to do it. The annual Kentucky Exposure Tour in Wilder is Nov. 28. Click on this link to register:</em> <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2489/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-kentucky" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://events.prepdig.com/e/2489/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-kentucky</a>. <em>For 25 percent off, type</em> ET26Mike25OFF <em>at checkout.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the hitting is not on par, teams need to dig in and find other ways to win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the Division I-A state championship at the Murphy Center, the winning team hit just .108 connecting for 43 kills on 148 attempts and 27 errors with the losing team hitting .103 with 42 kills on 155 swings and 26 errors. Serving and defense wound up the differences in this one as the Eagleville Eagles (43-6 overall) repeated as state champions with a 3-1 (26-24, 26-24, 20-25, 25-7) victory over the Merrol Hyde Hawks (20-7) on Friday at the Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University. This marked Merol Hyde's first appearance in the state championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams finished with 40 assists, but Eagleville recorded 17 aces, 76 digs and 10 blocks to four aces, 67 digs and seven blocks for Merrol Hyde. In the final set, Eagleville connected for 10 kills on 30 attempts and just four errors for a .200 hitting percentage and Merrol Hyde had just three kills on 29 attempts and six errors for a negative-.103 hitting percentage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I think defensively, we played strong all four sets and then we got our offense going in the fourth," Eagleville head coach Deanna Freise said. "Our serving was aggressive, which helped take them out of system and we were able to use our offense more. Not all the points were pretty. They don't have to be, but you have to be able to scrap out some of those more winnable points and our defense was able to do that."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Libero [player_tooltip player_id='803215' first='Presley' last='Knowles'] once again led the effort on defense for the Eagles. Lisa Freise, [player_tooltip player_id='964306' first='Kinni' last='Rose Campbell'], [player_tooltip player_id='833967' first='Kaylen' last='Baker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='940988' first='Campbell' last='Leathers'] made sound defensive plays with [player_tooltip player_id='829915' first='Autumn' last='Burns'], Campbell, Baker, Freise and Leathers recording at least two aces each. Campbell then distributed the ball well to Leathers, Baker, [player_tooltip player_id='938492' first='Brylee' last='Bain'] and [player_tooltip player_id='964305' first='Harper' last='Bugg']. Bain, Leathers and even Aubry Tibbs recorded at least five assisted blocks in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hawks had a great run to the state championship game that includes postseason tournament wins over Loretto and Summertown. [player_tooltip player_id='959318' first='Gentry' last='Hansen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='842926' first='Jena' last='Wright'] recorded kills to help the Hawks come close to taking the first two sets and extend the game winning the third set. Hansen and Cae Cae Harrigan made some nice assists with [player_tooltip player_id='991509' first='Izzy' last='Shaw'] making things happen on serves, blocking and some kills. Harrigan took some nice swings and recorded sound digs with Wright nearly hitting double figures in digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stat Leaders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kills</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='940988' first='Campbell' last='Leathers'], Eagleville - 16</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='959318' first='Gentry' last='Hansen'], Merrol Hyde - 15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='842926' first='Jena' last='Wright'], Merrol Hyde - 13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='833967' first='Kaylen' last='Baker'], Eagleville - 8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='964305' first='Harper' last='Bugg'], Eagleville - 7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='964306' first='Kinni' last='Rose Campbell'], Eagleville - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='938492' first='Brylee' last='Bain'], Eagleville - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cae Cae Harrigan, Merrol Hyde - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='991509' first='Izzy' last='Shaw'], Merrol Hyde - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assists</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Campbell - 32</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harrigan - 20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hansen - 12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aces</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='829915' first='Autumn' last='Burns'], Eagleville - 5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baker - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lisa Freise - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leathers - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shaw - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Campbell - 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Digs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='803215' first='Presley' last='Knowles'], Eagleville - 24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Campbell - 17</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hansen - 16</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freise - 14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shaw - 14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harrigan - 13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wright - 9</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leathers - 8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='810398' first='Adeline' last='Miller'], Merrol Hyde - 7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blocks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leathers - six assisted, one solo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bain - five assisted</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aubry Tibbs, Eagleville - five assisted</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shaw - four assisted</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hansen - one solo, two assisted</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harrigan - two assisted</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lucy Morris, Merrol Hyde - two assisted</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Third Place Bracket</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts knocked off Bledsoe County, 3-1 in the consolation round before beating Summertown, 3-1 to finish third place Thursday at Rockvale. Summertown knocked off Halls, 3-0 earlier in the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Championship Game Playmakers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["940988"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1055416,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6adc17b93bfc0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The tournament's most valuable player won jousts at the net and recorded powerful crosses using her size to pound balls over and around blockers. Leathers did a good job tooling blocks and produced at all six spots on the court. Leathers sends over tough line drive serves to keep opponents out of system and recorded powerful blocks the whole game. Leathers said the Eagles came out in the fourth set and flexed their muscles to dominate the set and win the championship, noting they'd been working for it since July.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["803215"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1055419,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6adc1ceee4e19"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Knowles has outstanding vision on the court. She communicates well and does what she can to beat balls to their destinations on the floor. Knowles does not hesitate to slide after balls under control trying to keep plays alive. Knowles said a big part of the game is not letting balls drop and that's her job. She added that lets setters and hitters try to make things happen with good sets then down balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["833967"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1055423,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6adc1ceee4e84"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Baker may fly under the radar some, but she made a lot of plays in the win. Baker puts over powerful jump serves and provides quality net backup. Baker tools blocks and makes nice in-air adjustments to record nice roll shots. Baker handles well-struck shots to the six zones. Baker said it was more battling themselves than the opponent in this game and said the work on defense proved to be vital in the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["842926"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1055429,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6adc1ea442e47"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wright made a lot of plays trying to lead the Eagles as the team's lone senior. Wright sent sound off shots to the side lines and recorded solid roll shots. The lefty sends hard balls down lines on go routes and is a solid blocker. Wright also did a nice job stepping to balls and making crisp first touches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["959318"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6adc1f7651ca3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hansen brings great versatility to Merrol Hyde. She is tough on ones and wins jousts at the net. Hansen gets up before blocks form and gets on top of balls to pound them to different zones. Hansen is a powerful blocker and does a good job setting things up so hitters can smack down balls over the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Note from Writer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mike Graham has been writing for Prep Dig for two and a half years and has enjoyed getting to know the volleyball scenes in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. If you liked the story, please copy and paste to X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. You may also follow us at @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigkentucky/#">prepdigkentucky</a>, @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigtennessee/#">prepdigtennessee</a> or @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigoh/#">prepdigoh</a> on Instagram in addition to @PrepDigKy, @PrepDigTN or @PrepDigOH on X. If you feel someone in Kentucky, Tennessee or Ohio needs coverage or even have feedback on the Kentucky or Tennessee rankings, please email Mike at michaelgraham@prepdig.com. You may also follow him on X @GMCgrah or Instagram @g.michaelgraham. Subscriptions give you access to exclusive content. For a 30% discount on yearly subscriptions, enter code graham30 at checkout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->