Creek Wood volleyball wins first state championship on first try
MURFREESBORO – Tears ran down Katie Bowers' face Friday afternoon as her face showed off a large grin.
The Creek Wood senior — one of five on the Lady Red Hawks' roster — had capped off their careers as state champion. And it came in the first TSSAA state tournament in program history.
Creek Wood defeated East Hamilton 3-2 (21-25, 25-12, 14-25, 25-20, 15-12) in the Class AA final at Siegel High.
"It's crazy," Bowers said. "We've always practiced so hard. We play so hard and get along so well with our team. It's just amazing for us to come here and do this."
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Bowers was named the Class AA state championship game MVP after compiling 23 kills, nine digs and five service aces. She was handed her MVP plaque by 1978 MVP Arleen Hale Hughes, who played on the 1976-78 Kirkman team. The TSSAA honored the Kirkman 1976-80 teams after the championship. Those were the first four seasons that the TSSAA offered volleyball as a sanctioned sport.
"She worked so hard for it, and I worked so hard for it," said Bowers of receiving the plaque from Hughes. "It's just amazing that she could be the one to give it to me."
Creek Wood's championship win came a day after dropping a 3-1 decision in the winners bracket final and being sent down to the loser's bracket. Creek Wood (40-2) then beat Dyer County 3-1 to set up a rematch in the championship.
Trista Jackson led Creek Wood with 34 digs while teammate Kendal Bryant had 24 digs. Lainey Miller added 27 assists.
East Hamilton finished 37-9 with a second consecutive state runner-up trophy. Georgia Dobson led the Lady Hurricanes with 17 kills and had 16 digs.
Creek Wood reached the region semifinals a year ago before this season's historic run.
"I'm a deer hunter," Creek Wood coach Jeremy Baker said. "This is like going out your very first time and killing a 14-pointer. What do you go out for next time, right?"
Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSSAA volleyball: Creek Wood wins first state championship
