The Middleton volleyball team’s first match at the TSSAA state tournament did not go its way. The Lady Tigers lost 3-0 to Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts (CSLA) in the Division I Class A quarterfinals Tuesday morning at Rockvale High School. Under the double-elimination format, Middleton’s season is not over: the Lady Tigers play Halls in the consolation bracket at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.
According to the official TSSAA state bracket, CSLA won by set scores of 25-18, 25-14 and 25-9. CSLA came into the state tournament at 27-6, and Middleton came in at 23-8.
How the Middleton Volleyball State Quarterfinal Played Out
Middleton kept the first set closest, trailing by seven at the end. CSLA then pulled away in the second and third sets to win in straight sets. The two teams opened the Class A bracket in Match 1 at Rockvale High School in Rutherford County, near Murfreesboro.
In the other Class A quarterfinal Tuesday, Eagleville swept Halls 25-10, 25-4, 25-3. That result put CSLA and Eagleville in Wednesday morning’s winners-bracket semifinal and sent Halls to the consolation bracket opposite Middleton.
What’s Next for the Lady Tigers
The Class A state bracket is double elimination, so one loss doesn’t end a team’s run. Here is Middleton’s next match, per the TSSAA bracket:
Opponent: Halls (11-3)
When: Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 2:30 p.m. Central
Where: Rockvale High School
Bracket: Consolation bracket, Match 7
The winner moves on to a consolation match Thursday at noon against the loser of the CSLA-Eagleville semifinal. The Class A state championship is set for Friday, Oct. 23, at 10 a.m. at MTSU.
A Strong Postseason Run
Middleton earned its trip to state with a strong region tournament. The Lady Tigers swept Hillcrest and Memphis Middle College, then beat Gibson County in a four-set match on Oct. 15 to clinch a state berth. The team had a community send-off Monday morning before making the trip to Middle Tennessee.
Fans who can’t make the drive can follow results on the official TSSAA bracket page, which is updated as matches finish.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
