Union City’s long volleyball winning streak came to an end Thursday night.
But the Lady Tornadoes’ season didn’t.
A 3-1 loss to Gibson County snapped UC’s run of consecutive victories at 10 in the District 13-A Tournament championship match.
The runner-up finish was still good enough to send the Twister girls (16-5) on to next week’s regional tourney in Memphis, where they’ll face District 14A champion MASE (Memphis Academy of Science & Engineering) Monday night at Crosstown High School in Memphis.
Match time has not been determined.
A Union City victory in that Region 7-A semifinal would propel the Lady Tornadoes to Tuesday’s championship match against the winner of the Gibson County-Crosstown semifinal. It would also lock up a spot in Thursday’s West Sectional for the Purple and Gold against another Memphis opponent.
Errors – both forced and unforced – significantly hurt Union City’s chances in Thursday’s district title tilt. All totaled, the Twisters were guilty of 46 charged mistakes, mostly in Games 1, 3, and 4 – all of which they lost 25-14.
In Game 2, which Union City won 25-20 behind six kills by Gracelyn Sims, the Lady Tornadoes were charged with just six mistakes.
It did mark the first time in program history that Union City won a set in three appearances in the district championship match.
“Obviously, the errors were the big thing,” Union City head coach Jessica Graham said. “I thought the girls played hard otherwise.
“We just have to clean up those errors next week as they become more magnified the further you go in the postseason.”
Madie Theobald finished with 18 assists, while Sims recorded 11 kills in all. Ca’Lae Ervin was credited with six kills, while Brianna McBride totaled five. Addison Carr and Allysia Davis each had four kills.
Sims and McBride were named to the All-District squad based on regular-season play in postgame ceremonies. Sims and Theobald were touted for All-Tournament team honors.
Davis earned a spot on the All-Academic team after posting at least a 3.0 grade point average in her senior season.
(photos: Mike Hutchens)
