Christopher James

Here’s an interesting story to get you through the holiday doldrums. Remember back when the Maryville College volleyball and women’s soccer teams were playing in the NCAA tournament over in Texas? Scots volleyball coach and athletic director Kandis Schram had some surprise guests for her team’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA second round against Southwestern in Georgetown.

“We’re standing there and I mean their crowd was huge, not hostile, but it’s loud and all of a sudden when they’re calling our team in the announcement I hear this roar,” Schram said. “I look up and our women’s soccer team flew into San Antonio, got two vans, drove over to watch us play. It was incredible.
“It was about an hour and 40, probably 45 minutes, but the fact that they came a day early, gave up practice time to come and support us was an amazing experience. I was so proud at that point as an athletic director. They came in just jogging, ‘woah!’. It was our 30 kids or whatever and coaches compared to, across the net, a buttload of students. They were loud. They were boisterous. They sat behind our bench and cheered for us the whole time. It was neat.”
Despite the cheering section, the Scots dropped the match and two days later the women’s soccer team was sent home as well, losing to Trinty. It was still a fun trip for soccer coach Pepe Fernandez.
“We flew into San Antonio then jumped into vans and rode over to watch the volleyball game,” Fernandez said. “The girls started talking about it and I said, ‘Guys, what’s the chance we’re going to see one of our other teams in an NCAA tournament where we’re this close?’ We had a great time. (They volleyball team) looked like they were pretty excited to have some fans there.”

Lady Rebels win their second straight county title, unbeaten in this event for the second straight year.

Maryville now the only unbeaten. A win over Heritage clinches another BC title.

The second round matchup with Maryville and Alcoa could decide things.

Alcoa pulls out another come from behind win. Grace Stubblefield provides the power with a sky spike and some slick serves.

Maryville dominating Game 2.

M breaks open a 15-all first game to take it. Alcoa rebounds from 20-17 down behind strong spikes and serves by Abigail Walker.

Heading over to Heritage here in a minute for the Blount County volleyball tourney. Tonight’s matches, scheduled for 5, 6 and 7 p.m., have been moved from Alcoa after a fire in the gym last night.
Here’s how this shindig works: It’s a round robin format, so each of the four teams plays everyone else once. Best record wins. Games count in a team’s overall record, but not as district matches.
Maryville won this event last year, going unbeaten in three matches to edge past the Lady Tornadoes, who finished 2-1.
You can follow along here with standings on the Big Board. I’ll also try to keep you posted on matches in progress. It all starts up at 5 p.m.

Completed Matches: Maryville def. WB, 25-16, 25-8. Alcoa def. Heritage 25-21, 25-22. Maryville def. Alcoa 25-16, 25-17. Heritage def. WB 25-18, 25-23.

Jenna Thorp must know what its like to feel young again.
Thorp is just one of three seniors on Maryville College’s volleyball squad, but after stepping away from the sport the last two years, she’s more like a sophomore. You can add her name to the 14 freshman and sophomore on this year’s Scots. It’s one of the youngest and largest squads coach Kandis Schram has ever had.
“We’re so young,” Schram said. “We’re feeling the pressure that we got to teach them out of the gate.”

Thorp was a big-time contributor for Schram two years ago as a freshman, but quit following her first year. She’s back this year, albeit a little rusty.
“As a freshman here at Maryville she was a phenomenal impact player,” Schram said. “It’s going to take her a little bit longer. She’s been playing beach, but beach and indoor are so different. She’s in shape, it’s just getting her in volleyball shape.”
Thorp said she’s still finding her way through practice, like the many first-years.
“I’m not a senior,” Thorp said. “I mean I am a senior but technically I don’t have the experience behind that.”
Hear Thorpe on her comeback

Despite going 28-4 and finishing last season on a 16-game win streak, the Scots were left out of the NCAA tournament in the first year the Great South went without a bid. MC’s second straight year without a tourney bid was tough to take.
Hear how Schram ranks last year’s NCAA disappointment.