Summit's volleyball team is one win away from a return trip to the TSSAA state tournament.
The defending Class AAA state champion Spartans will travel to Station Camp on Thursday, Oct. 15, for a 6 p.m. sectional match, Summit Spartans Athletics announced on X. The winner advances to state.
The matchup was set after Summit split results at the Region 5-AAA tournament Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Franklin. The Spartans opened the day by sweeping District 9-AAA champion Lincoln County 25-10, 25-17, 25-15, then fell to top-ranked Franklin in a five-set region final, 20-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-17, 15-12, the Williamson Herald reported.
As region runner-up, Summit advances to the sectional round.
Senior Emery Estep paced the Spartans with 20 kills in the region final against Franklin. Senior Everleigh DeShazo added 13. In the earlier sweep of Lincoln County, DeShazo led with 11 kills while junior Nonie Yancy tallied nine. Seniors Raegan Burtch, Tessa Rowe and Estep combined for 10 of the team's 13 aces in that match.
Volleyball coach Warne Riker, who guided Summit to last season's state title, told the Williamson Herald the loss did not diminish his view of the team's effort.
"Just a couple of minor mistakes that took the advantage away from us," Riker said, according to the Herald. "Other than that, the girls played amazing."
The region final was the fourth meeting this season between Summit and Franklin. All four went five sets, and Franklin won each time, the Herald reported.
Summit's postseason run has included a district quarterfinal sweep of Ravenwood and a three-set win over second-seeded Nolensville in the district semifinals. The Spartans then fell to Franklin in a five-set district title match before reaching the region tournament for just the second time in program history, according to the Herald.
A win sends Summit back to the state tournament to defend last year's championship.
