SPORTS

Father Ryan settles for runner-up in state volleyball

Sam Brown
sdbrown@tennessean.com

MURFREESBORO – Father Ryan High's volleyball team couldn't duplicate Thursday's comeback win over Baylor.

Father Ryan's Maxi Edwards, right, blocks a Baylor shot next to Olivia Rolick during the TSSAA Division II-AA state volleyball championship at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro.

Baylor turned the tables Friday, taking a 3-1 victory over the Lady Irish to capture the TSSAA Division II-AA state volleyball championship at Siegel High School.

Father Ryan came back from a 2-1 deficit in Thursday's winners bracket finals match to earn a 3-2 victory.

The Lady Irish (46-10) luck did not continue on Friday, however.

"I told them that this championship obviously does not define our season," Father Ryan head coach Jinx Cockerham said. "Because we were back at 46 wins, we won two major tournament championships, we had a hard road to get here because we were No. 3 in our region and we had to play Baylor."

After falling behind midway through the first set, Baylor came back from a three-point deficit to take a 25-23 set one victory before Father Ryan returned the favor in set two, recovering from a three-point deficit on its way to a 26-24 win.

Baylor (43-9) jumped back out on top of the Lady Irish after a 25-21 set three victory gave the Lady Red Raiders a 2-1 advantage.

After three tightly-contested sets, Baylor pulled away from Father Ryan in the final set, winning 25-15 to lock up the state title.

Father Ryan’s Gracie Larkin, right, consoles Maggie Mullins on the bench after a 3-1 loss to Baylor during the Division II-AA Girls Volleyball Tournament at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro on Friday.

Gabby Gray led the way for Baylor with 24 kills and nine digs on her way to MVP honors. Sarah Sumida provided support with 34 assists and 19 digs.

For Father Ryan, Lauren Dorrell had 19 kills, nine digs and one block, while Maggie Mullins added 14 kills and 20 assists in her final match for the Lady Irish.

Cockerham said Baylor made the most of momentum swings.

"Volleyball is the kind of game where depending on how things go with the momentum shifts and so forth, anything can happen," she said. "This team had kind of that stick-to-it and will to win that got them out of a lot of situations."

Cockerham said the loss doesn't change how she feels about her team or its season.

"These kids are awesome," she said. "They were so good. There is nothing but heart out there."