Nolensville senior Avery Young and her father, head coach Brett Young, embrace after their state championship victory.JOEL CLINGER
“Immediate tears.”
Nolensville senior Avery Young could finally relax after the final point Friday, as her team swept Ravenwood 25-14, 25-19 and 25-21 for the Class AAA state volleyball title.
“We fought so hard to get here, and it all paid off,” Young said. “It honestly just feels like this huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders. It’s amazing.”
Friday’s match was the sixth edition of Nolensville-Ravenwood this season alone as both play in District 11-AAA. The Knights came out victorious five times, including on Friday.
Nolensville (43-4) had the advantage from the start. Ravenwood coach Abbey West burned both of her team’s timeouts in each of the first two sets, but nothing could stop the positive momentum for Nolensville or the snowball of errors for Ravenwood.
The Raptors (27-14) did not lose in the state tournament prior to the championship, coming out of the winners bracket. They had been consistent, especially late in the season.
Avery Young and her father, head coach Brett Young, embrace after their state championship victory.JOEL CLINGER
Ravenwood just did not have what it took in the final match.
“We’re always playing our best volleyball at the end of the season,” West said. “I think that this team is the epitome of what our program is all about. Unfortunately, our team has been successful in the serve-and-pass game all year long, and that’s the one thing that broke down in tonight’s match.
“It sucks that it had to be this match, but it is what it is.”
Nolensville won its fifth consecutive game in three days to come out of the losers bracket after losing its opening-round game to Cleveland.
Young put it best.
“Sets-wise, Ravenwood played 10 sets the first three days,” she said. “We played 11 sets yesterday. It’s so physically taxing, but I think all the wins yesterday really pushed us and got us really excited for today.”
“That’s not the way I would normally pick to do it,” said Nolensville coach Brett Young, Avery’s father. “Cleveland played a great match that first day, kind of put us behind the eight-ball so to speak and we had to go one at a time.
The Knights dogpile on the floor after sweeping Ravenwood for the AAA state title Friday.JOEL CLINGER
“I can’t say enough about our kids. To battle back from that first loss, this is a pretty special moment for sure.”
This moment is not foreign to the Knights. They won Class AA titles in 2019 and 2020.
The Knights faced the toughest possible competition this season in Class AAA and proved they could not only compete, but be the best.
“It’s not to sound cocky, but we knew coming in we had a good team,” Brett Young said. “We knew we were competitive with them. It’s just a night-in, night-out grind at AAA for sure. We had a really solid season to set us up for a postseason run.
“When it was time to get the job done, these kids stepped up these last three days in an unbelievable way.”
This group, including the head coach, has been together dating back to their middle school days at Mill Creek. Avery Young and North Florida commit Maymie Guthrie will graduate as three-time champions, but their roots go far beyond that title.
Avery Young and her father, head coach Brett Young, embrace after their state championship victory.JOEL CLINGER
“I think that I’m definitely going to miss all of these friendships,” Guthrie said. “This team, this town of Nolensville, is so special. We’re little, but we’re all so close.”
Tanya Sichling knocks the ball into play.JOEL CLINGER
Ravenwood head coach Abbey West talks to her team in the huddle Friday.JOEL CLINGER
Ellie Tant knocks the ball to her teammate.JOEL CLINGER
Maymie Guthrie reacts to the ball.JOEL CLINGER
Maymie Guthrie signals the ball was out.JOEL CLINGER
Marlee Holden serves the ball.JOEL CLINGER
The Knights come together after a won point.JOEL CLINGER
The Knights come together after a won point.JOEL CLINGER
Ellie Tant jumps up for the tip.JOEL CLINGER
Madeline McNeely celebrates a kill.JOEL CLINGER
Nolensville head coach Brett Young has been with this group since middle school.JOEL CLINGER
Ravenwood players wait for the serve.JOEL CLINGER
The Ravenwood student section was loud Friday.JOEL CLINGER
The Ravenwood student section was loud Friday.JOEL CLINGER
Reghan Grimes attempts the spike.JOEL CLINGER
Reaghan Larkin celebrates a point.JOEL CLINGER
Reaghan Larkin celebrates a point.JOEL CLINGER
Kennedy Riggs jumps up for the ball.JOEL CLINGER
Isabella Lepore waits for the serve.JOEL CLINGER
The Nolensville student section was decked out in red, white and blue.JOEL CLINGER
MVP Kaira Knox and Madeline McNeely jump up for the block.JOEL CLINGER
MVP Kaira Knox and Madeline McNeely attempt the block.JOEL CLINGER
Ellie Kimpel goes back to the bench as Nolensville celebrates their second-set victory.JOEL CLINGER
Nolensville students chant at the Ravenwood student section.JOEL CLINGER
The Knights come together after a point.JOEL CLINGER
Brett Young cheers on his team from the sideline.JOEL CLINGER
Maymie Guthrie reacts to a won point in the third set.JOEL CLINGER
Avery YoungJOEL CLINGER
Kaira Knox smiles after a kill.JOEL CLINGER
Margaret Rickert comes back to the huddle.JOEL CLINGER
Maymie Guthrie keeps the ball alive.JOEL CLINGER
Peyton Neal serves.JOEL CLINGER
Brett young high fives Peyton Neal on her way back to the bench.JOEL CLINGER
Kennedy Riggs and Natalie Allen jump up for the block.JOEL CLINGER
Caroline Johnston sets the ball to her teammate.JOEL CLINGER
Ellie Tant sets the ball.JOEL CLINGER
The Knights dogpile on the floor Friday.JOEL CLINGER
Nolensville players celebrate beating Ravenwood for the Class AAA state title on Oct. 22.Joel Clinger
Madeline McNeely and Maggie Allred embrace after the victory.JOEL CLINGER
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Avery Young and her father, head coach Brett Young, hug after the game.JOEL CLINGER
Avery Young and her father, head coach Brett Young, hug after the game.JOEL CLINGER
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