By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City’s storybook volleyball season has at least a couple more chapters left to be written.
They’ll be penned at the state tournament next week.
The Lady Tornadoes are one of just eight Class 1A teams remaining in the state after winning at Middleton 3-1 Thursday night in the West Sectionals.
The Purple and Gold (18-6) will join a talented field for the double-elimination event at Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, beginning on Tuesday. Union City will discover its first-round opponent and match time today when the TSSAA posts a complete bracket.
UC’s remarkable turnaround after struggling the past two seasons has made for a great read, with a program-record 18 wins now and the school’s third trip to the state tourney in 13 seasons.
Head coach Jessica Graham – who piloted the Twister girls to their first state tournament in 2017 and is the winningest coach in the brief history of the sport at the school – became a touch emotional when acknowledging this year’s feat by the Purple and Gold.
“I was pregnant with my son (Hays) seven years ago and it was the last year of my first tenure as coach,” Graham said after her team won Thursday. “That was a special time, and so is this one. It’s pretty awesome.
“I was a little nervous when I decided to come back and take over the program. I knew some things had changed, and I just wanted to be a part of something good. And I am.
“I’m so proud of the girls and for them. It’s the same group that’s struggled the last couple of years, and they’ve worked hard to turn things around. They’ve accomplished so many things that I’m not sure they understand yet, but they’re beginning to see what they’re capable of.”
Union City is now 4-0 in postseason elimination games this year after putting away a gritty Middleton bunch that had claimed the District 15 and Region 8 championships.
After cruising to a pair of 25-15 wins in the first two games of the match, the Lady Tornadoes were reeling somewhat after Middleton took the third set (25-21) and held a 13-5 lead in Game 4.
Undaunted, UC gradually chipped away at that deficit, finally drawing even at 19-all before edging in front by a couple of points with Gracie Sims serving. A critical winner provided by Addison Carr put the Twisters on the brink of victory before a match-ending Middleton error set off a Union City celebration.
“This (rally) doesn’t happen a couple of nights ago, but I challenged a couple of our girls to step up and into leadership roles yesterday in practice – and they did,” Graham added. “They understood that if we didn’t win, our season was over, and they took it upon themselves to be leaders and not allow us to give up and give in.
“They proved they were capable of filling those roles.”
Sims recorded 10 kills, five saves, and four service aces for UC. Carr had 10 kills and three aces, while Madie Theobald notched 17 assists and six saves.
Brianna McBride finished with six digs, four saves, and four aces, Clare Atwill had 11 digs, and Mary Kate Sinclair recorded a team-high five service aces for a squad that had 20 in all.
The Lady Tornadoes overcame 63 charged errors to win for the 12th time in its last 14 matches.