Anticipation building as volleyball begins in Scott County

Volleyball is a big deal in Scott County. Gate City has won six state championships and Rye Cove has won two. Twin Springs is always a team to contend with as well. All three Scott County teams will open their seasons next week. Here is a brief look at those teams. GATE CITY One senior returns for Gate City, but third-year head coach LeAnn Overbay has been pleased with what she had seen, not just from that senior setter Sophie Webb, but also likes that eight of the 14 players on the roster have seen some action on the floor. "They have done really well going and playing travel ball," said Overbay, who's Blue Devils lost six players, including four seniors. "We have done a lot of work over the summer that has really shown some great growth. I am feeling pretty confident of what I am seeing so far, I think we are definitely going to be competitive." In addition to Webb, Gate City will turn to a trio of juniors in middle hitter Nora Estep, outside hitter Braylie Chaffin, and Ava Jennings, who plays all over the court. Sophomore libero Ava Mullins also returns for the Blue Devils, which opens its season on Monday by hosting Daniel Boone. A pair of freshmen, Mattie Kimbler and Kayln Houseright have also shown early potential to get on the court. Gate City will definitely be challenged, especially in the Mountain 7 District that includes depending Class 2 state champion Ridgeview and fellow state tournament qualifier John Battle. "I definitely think we are going to be ending up in the middle of the pack again," said Overbay, who is looking for the Blue Devils to be mentally tougher, having lost 10 games last season by two points. "Obviously there are teams up at the top that have been there in the last couple of years that I would like us to really compete with. They have got a lot of experience right out of the gate." RYE COVE Former Gate City volleyball standout Hayley White is back for her second season as head coach of the Eagles, having led the Eagles into the Region 1D tournament last season for the first time since 2021. While all-everything Jalynn Rogers graduated, the Eagles bring back plenty of experience, including seven seniors with a hunger for success. "I know that most of them are especially motivated to make the most of this year," said White, who's Eagles open the season on Tuesday by hosting Gate City. "They have invested a lot into this program and I want this season to be something they can look back on and be proud of." Junior setter Lexi Shupe will play a key role for the Eagles as an All-Cumberland District and Region 1A setter last season. Chloe Davis is one of those seven seniors for Rye Cove, and will have to help fill the production left behind by Rogers. Morgan Edwards, Kendal Osborne and Lindsey Vincent are three more of those seniors, while freshmen Brooklyn Wilson and Bella Horne are also competing for spots on the court. "I have seen so much growth in these girls," said White, whose Eagles hope to compete in the Cumberland District, and advance past the opening round of regionals this season. "Obviously falling short in first round of region last year hurt a little bit so we are going to try to take that frustration and try to put it into this season to see if we can push even further than that." TWIN SPRINGS Change is part of high school sports, and Twin Springs understands the feeling, having lost several talented seniors to graduation, including Mackenzie Gillenwater and Sarah Davidson, who will both play softball at the college level. "Replacing seniors, no matter what the sport is, is always tough, whether it is performance wise or just leadership wise and competitiveness," said new Twin Springs volleyball coach Robin Tiller, who replaces Megan Reed with the Titans, which lost to Grundy in the Region 1D quarterfinals last season. "We have got a really good young group of girls that are sophomores that are working through right now. We have got some seniors that have been playing quite a bit," said Tiller, who's Titans open the season on Monday at Lee High. "We have got a pretty good mix of girls that have moved up from JV and seniors that had kind of been biding their time as well. Pretty balanced in that department. Filling those holes is always hard, but I think we have got some good pieces." That includes sophomore Meadow McConnell, who showed flashes of being a player to watch for the Titans. Others to watch include sophomores Bella Lawson at setter and libero Addison Counts. Seniors Ana Lopez and Natalie Greear are defensive specialists, while freshmen Emily Cassel, Abby Davis and Ava Davis will also factor in for the Titans. "As a whole we are just going to have to play night in and night out as always," said Tiller, who served as a JV head coach and assistant varsity volleyball coach at Union from 2017-21. "I think we have got a good chance to make some waves and be somewhere around there in the middle to the top of the Cumberland for sure."