By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City’s record-setting volleyball season came to a close Wednesday in Murfreesboro.
The Lady Tornadoes, who set a program record with 24 wins and claimed a share of a regular season district championship for the first time, bowed out of the Class A State Tournament with a 3-0 loss to Chattanooga School for Arts and Sciences in the consolation round.
UC concluded its otherwise stellar 2025 campaign with a 24-8 record.
Eight seniors – Clare Atwill, Addison Carr, Ca’Lae Ervin, Madison Hillin, Kumya Liphford, Gracie Sims, Madie Theobald, and Crickett Washburn – suited up for the final time in a Union City uniform. They headlined a class that won 42 matches and qualified for the state tournament in back-to-back seasons.
“I hate the end-of-a-season speech and having to watch our seniors say goodbye to volleyball,” said Lady Twister head coach Jessica Graham, the winningest coach in the 13-year history of the program. “This group was a special group. They were fun to coach and even more fun to be around.
“There was not a dry eye at the end, from our seniors down to our freshmen, and I think that says a lot. These girls did a lot to help get our program where it is today and that’s something they can be proud of. Someone said something about (our son) Hays needing a sister, and I replied: ‘he already has a whole team of older sisters who look after him, and I couldn’t ask for anything better.’”
The Lady Tornadoes could never find their groove in losing to CSAS 25-11, 25-21, and 25-9 on Wednesday.
The Patriots’ big and talented front line dominated the action at the net, and UC hurt itself with 57 errors in the contest.
Union City led just five times in the match, never by more than one point. Four of those leads came in a competitive second game before the Chattanooga entry (29-8) scored three of the final four points to win.
Theobald had 14 assists, three saves, and three kills for the Lady Tornadoes. Atwill was credited with 10 digs, and Sims recorded eight kills.
Gordonsville (26-1), which blanked UC in the opening round, will play Eagleville (42-5) in the state championship match on Friday at 1 p.m.