Smith hoping to lead Grace to state tournament
Grace Academy’s volleyball program has steadily been on the rise in recent years. That Alex Smith has been a part of that is no coincidence.
The powerful outside hitter committed to Middle Tennessee State has one more chance to lead the Lady Golden Eagles through a TSSAA season, which starts Monday for teams in Tennessee. GHSA teams were allowed to begin play Aug. 5.
Smith’s volleyball career began in club ball when she was 10. She also played softball and basketball when she was younger. But since her sophomore year, her concentration has been on volleyball.
“I just really had a passion for volleyball,” Smith said. “I really love the sport.”
Grace competes in District 5-A. Boyd-Buchanan has been the league’s top program historically, although district members Silverdale Baptist Academy and Arts & Sciences have had some formidable teams as well. Grace Academy, not so much.
But that didn’t divert Smith, who started at Grace in kindergarten.
“I’ve been here my whole life,” Smith said. “I figured out Grace is where I needed to be personally.”
And Grace volleyball coach Hillary Waters is glad of that.
“I think she just has an all-around ability, and that’s what makes her such a great player,” Waters said. “She can hit, serve, pass and set. All those skills are at least equal with her, I believe. And she doesn’t get too upset out on the court. She doesn’t get too emotional with excitement, either. That way we stay calm.”
Smith has been an impact player throughout her time with the Lady Golden Eagles. She and her teammates navigated through the district and Region 3 tournaments two years ago before having to travel to Goodpasture for their state sectional. Their season ended there with a loss to the Lady Cougars — winners of the last four state championships.
Last year Grace won its district regular-season crown but lost in the district tournament final to a Silverdale team it had beaten in both district regular-season matches. Smith didn’t compete in the district tournament because of an ankle sprain she suffered in the powder puff football game during homecoming week.
The season ended in the next match — a region semifinal at Sale Creek.
“I told them, ‘No volleyball players are allowed to play in the powder puff game,’” Smith said, taking responsibility for the 2015 predicament. “I don’t care what anybody says. That’s a new rule.”
Grace’s other seniors are setter Summer Dean and middle hitters Lexie Mullins and Kea Vonnoh. They are also vital members in the rotation, along with the juniors — outside hitter Autumn Parrott and libero Maggie Long.
“I am super excited for this season,” Waters said. “We have a great senior class, and even a junior class. We expect to do well in the district tournament and the region tournament. We didn’t do as well in that only sectional game, but we’ve been there and done that. The junior- and senior-class members were there. They remember that feeling. They learned a lot from that experience.”
Smith said while it’s sad to think about this being her last year at Grace, she’s excited to get her senior season started. And if she has her way, that season will include a trip to Murfreesboro in late October.
“If we are healthy, we definitely can make a run at it,” Waters said of the state tournament. “The girls have to learn to be more focused and mentally tougher than ever before. We have the fire and the skills. I believe we’ll be ready to make that run.”
Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter @ KelleySmiddie.