By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City added another line to its record-setting 2024 volleyball resume on Monday.
The Lady Tornadoes – already with several program records established this year – set a new high-water mark for most wins in a season with a 3-0 sweep of Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering in the Region 7A Tournament semifinals at Crosstown High School.
Now 17-5, the Purple and Gold will face Gibson County tonight at 5:30 at CHS in Memphis for the regional championship and host rights in Thursday’s sectional match. The loser will travel to Middleton or Memphis for that 7 o’clock match.
Union City will advance to Thursday’s sectional round regardless of the outcome of its fourth meeting with GC tonight. Gibson County has won the previous three matchups – including last week’s District 13A final in which UC won a set in a district championship match for the first time ever.
The Twister girls, who earlier this year set a program record for consecutive wins (10) and posted the highest winning percentage in a season (currently .772), were clearly the superior team vs. Region 8 champion MASE Monday.
UC won 25-16, 25-16, and then finished the sweep with a 25-9 Game 3 romp.
“We had some tournament jitters early, but we were able to quickly get past that and settled in with a good effort,” Union City head coach Jessica Graham said.
“ We’re excited to get to play for the region championship tomorrow (Tuesday) and look forward to Thursday and the sectional round, too. We’ll need very good efforts with minimal mistakes in each of those matches.”
UC pounded down 36 kills – 14 by Gracelyn Sims, eight by Brianna McBride, and seven by Addison Carr.
Madie Theobald continued her season-long trait of setting up her teammates with 27 of the Lady Tornadoes’ 31 assists, while Clair Atwill had a team-best six digs.
McBride and Crickett Washburn served four aces apiece for the winners.
MASE closed its season with a 15-3 mark.