Lady Canes still champs
Some of the names and faces may change, but East Hamilton’s volleyball program continues to impress.
The Lady Hurricanes won their fourth straight Region 3-AA championship Tuesday, with junior McKenna Hayes and sisters Amya and Tristin Sutton the top contributors in the back-to-back home victories to clinch the title.
Hayes totaled 13 kills, 19 digs and seven aces to help lead sweeps of Kingston, 25-17, 25-19, 25-19, and then Hixson in the final, 25-11, 25-20, 25-14. Amya Sutton had seven kills, 15 digs and four aces, while Tristin Sutton had 12 kills and 20 assists.
Hana Suzuki had 11 assists and 10 digs for East Hamilton in the title match, which paired the same teams for the fourth consecutive season.
Despite losing standout Madison Allen to injury this season and having to replace key players including 2019 seniors Madison Hayes and Hillary English, the Lady Hurricanes will advance to the Class AA state tournament for the fourth straight year as well with a sectional win. They host Livingston Academy in that round at 7 tonight.
› Signal Mountain defeated Stone Memorial in five sets Tuesday night to win the Region 4-AA championship at Livingston Academy. The Lady Eagles will host Hixson at 7 tonight with the winner earning a berth in the state tournament.
› Sale Creek won the Region 3-A championship Tuesday at Community High School. The Lady Panthers defeated Eagleville in four sets before sweeping the hosts to win the title. Sale Creek hosts East Robertson in a Class A sectional at 7 tonight.
› In GHSA play, Sonoraville split a trimatch at home Tuesday, beating intracounty rival Calhoun after losing to Heritage. Both matches for Sonoraville ( 35-12), which is ranked sixth in Class AAA, went three sets, with the Lady Phoenix beating AAAAA’s Calhoun 25-18, 17-25, 15-10, but No. 1-ranked Heritage of AAAA topping the hosts, 25-19, 24-26, 15-10.
Sonoraville sophomore Alley Cole totaled 12 kills and six blocks Tuesday, while Abby Chambers (six kills, 14 digs) and Kayleigh Owenby ( seven kills) also led the attack. Raleigh Hooper and Camden Steely combined for 31 assists, 13 digs and seven kills, and Megan Grantham and Gracyn Thompson had 27 assists combined.
SOCCER
› Silverdale Baptist Academy 2, Christian Academy of Knoxville 0: The Lady Seahawks won their Division II-A East Region semifinal Tuesday as sisters Claire and Brooke Bolton scored in the first half and Addie Chapman had an assist. Each team had eight shots on goal, with keeper Tinley Card getting the shutout against CAK (13-2-1). Rhyan Butterworth, Christian Echols and Elle Lam were also noted as standouts for Silverdale (10-4-1), which will play Boyd Buchanan for the region championship tonight.
› Signal Mountain 10, Arts & Sciences 1: The back-to-back Class A state champions dominated Tuesday in the District 5-A title match. Freshman Ava Duffey had two goals and three assists, while Camilla Mincey scored three goals. Signal Mountain midfielder Lilly Whitney helped steer the attack, and Jessica Agan and Briley Lowry were also reported as standout performers.
SOFTBALL
› Central- Carroll 2, Northwest Whitfield 1: Kylie Hayes delivered a sharp pitching performance with nine strikeouts in a complete game Wednesday, but the Lady Bruins (14-15) could not provide enough run support as they were held to four hits in the GHSA Region 7-AAAA matchup in Tunnel Hill. Allison Cowan had two hits for Northwest, which gave up both runs by Central in the third inning.