Summit opens its TSSAA Class AAA state title defense against Science Hill at noon CT Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro.

The Spartans, who won the program's first state championship last season, earned their berth by beating Station Camp in the sectional round Thursday, Oct. 15. Setter Raegan Burtch hit 1,000 career assists in that match, Main Street Media of Tennessee reported.

The matchup is a rematch. Summit swept Science Hill in last year's state semifinals, according to Tri-Cities Sports.

Science Hill (41-4) is making its first back-to-back state tournament appearance under 10-year head coach Laura Cook. The Lady Hilltoppers beat Knox Central in straight sets in their sectional to punch their ticket, Tri-Cities Sports reported.

Summit coach Warne Riker acknowledged the pressure of defending a title back in August, when the Williamson Herald previewed the season.

"There's a special target on our back because we won and everybody wants to say that we're just a 'one and done' type thing," Riker said then.

The Spartans return six seniors: Tessa Rowe, Everleigh DeShazo, Aaree Poag, Emery Estep, Madison Spelta and Micah Hayes, according to the Williamson Herald's preseason report. DeShazo, who committed to play beach volleyball at Florida Gulf Coast, posted 18 kills in Summit's district title match, the Williamson Herald reported. Estep added 20 kills in the Region 5-AAA final against Franklin on Oct. 13.

Science Hill counters with two-time Conference Player of the Year Lucy O'Daniel at setter and two-time Defensive Player of the Year Isa Dau, along with hitters Chloe Conner, Bryleigh Scott and Clara McBride, according to Tri-Cities Sports.

The Class AAA bracket is single elimination on the championship side, Tri-Cities Sports reported. If Summit wins Tuesday, it would face the Oakland-Collierville winner at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, according to the tournament bracket published by the Columbia Daily Herald.

Franklin, which beat Summit in five sets in the region final, also made the Class AAA field. The Admirals face Dobyns Bennett at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The Class AAA championship match is scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Murphy Center on the Middle Tennessee State University campus, according to the tournament bracket.