Source: Williamson Herald
Author & Photos by: Charles Pulliam
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NOLENSVILLE – Earlier this month, the Nolensville High School and Brentwood High volleyball teams battled to a draw in a preseason tournament.
Tuesday wasn't a timed match.
To the delight of a rowdy Knights student section, the Nolensville girls picked up a District 11-AAA sweep of the visiting Bruins 25-13, 25-15, 26-24 to kick off league play for the three-time defending state champions.
"We kind of expected to play really well," said Knights senior Maggie Rickert, who tallied a match-best 15 kills with seven digs in the victory. "It's Brentwood and we have a lot of adrenaline. To get a sweep is just really exciting."
High-flyer Kaira Knox added nine kills and lengthy freshman Addison Wiemann chipped in nine kills. Maggie Allred racked up seven blocks and Peyton Neal scooped up 16 digs to lead the Nolensville defense.
Knights coach Brett Young said he was proud of how his girls played, especially against such a tough opponent like the Bruins.
"You know, Brentwood has been so good for so long, and I'm sure people thought last year they had this down year, but they were still a top five team in the state," Young said. "We all are just in the same district, so it's tough to get out.
"We knew what they were going to be bringing tonight because we know how good they are. They definitely made us earn that third set."
The final set was a true back-and-forth showdown. Rickert called it a "tug-of-war" and thanked the group of some 120 students for helping create a postseason-style atmosphere with cheering throughout the see-saw affair.
"Being able to have that big of a section – especially for a volleyball team – I mean, you know football will have a big student section, but for us to have that kind of support, it just makes the game 10 times more fun," Rickert said.
"They get loud and excited from the get-go," Young added. "The team gets to build off that energy and it makes a difference for us.
"It's just so neat to be able to feel that and see that because you'd don't see a lot of it in high school volleyball."
Neither team led by more than two in the final set. The Knights hit that edge twice late with a Knox kill making it 22-20 and a Wiemann kill making it 23-21, but Brentwood still battled.
Cece Meyer came away with a big block for the Bruins and then smacked a kill from the middle to end a tough rally and knot the set at 23-23. Nolensville setter Ellie Tant popped up to the freshman Wiemann, who sent a kill down the left side, before Brentwood's Ashley Miller responded to tie the set again.
A Bruins' serving error – the seventh of the set and 10th of the match – gave the lead back to Nolensville where Allred and Knox teamed up to provide the final block.
Brentwood coach Cathy Cram said her team struggled to jump start their outside hitting and failed to seal the block.
"That is a good team and they are not just going to give the game to us," she said. "We have to earn it and they did not want it tonight. If we focus on the little things, cut down on our mistakes – we can beat a good team like this.
"We need to play more consistent."
Brentwood was paced by Miller (10 kills) and Meyer (9 kills). Do-all senior Dylan Sulcer guided the offense with 26 assists.
The Bruins opened with an early lead in the first set before Nolensville found some rhythm with Tant and Caroline Johnston bouncing between Rickert and Knox on the outside, while Allred disrupted everything in the middle.
Brentwood led 8-5 in the opener before an 8-1 run from the home team turned things around. Nolensville raced out to a 15-7 lead in the second set, but the Bruins gained some momentum with a 6-0 run capped by Ashley Hurt's big swing from the right side. Ashley Miller provided a point-saving dig in a long rally prior.
The Knights recovered and pushed the advantage back to seven as Knox and Rickert provided back-to-back kills to close the set.
"Volleyball is a game of runs and there were times when Brentwood grabbed a small lead," Young said. "I thought we did a great job of staying composed and getting the ball to a point where we could work and be in our system. I really think we just have more weapons than most teams and we can eventually wear opponents down."
Nolensville heads to Alabama this weekend for a premiere tournament before a busy week that includes a pair of district matches against Ravenwood and Centennial.
Rickert said she thinks her team is ready for the challenges ahead.
"Everyone is playing well together," she said. "Our blocking game was on point tonight. … This was our first big district game but we started out strong and it feels great."
Nolensville def. Brentwood, 3-0
at Nolensville High School Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022
Kills – BHS 31 (Ashley Miller 10, Cece Meyer 9), NHS 35 (Maggie Rickert 15, Kaira Knox 9). Assists – BHS 29 (Dylan Sulcer 26), NHS 33 (Ellie Tant 16, Caroline Johnston 11). Aces – BHS 3 (Callie Cummins, Dylan Sulcer, Ashley Miller), NHS 5 (Ellie Tant 2, Kaira Knox 2). Digs – BHS 35 (Hannah Tate 12, Ashley Miller 8), NHS 39 (Peyton Neal 16). Blocks – BHS 6 (Cece Meyer 2, Eliza McKnight 2), NHS 13 (Maggie Allred 7).