Mt. Juliet's Lady Bears volleyball team closed the regular season with a three-set sweep at Portland on Oct. 1, winning 25-22, 27-25 and 25-23.
The victory avenged an earlier loss to the Lady Panthers in September and gave first-year head coach John Stephens' squad momentum entering the District 12-AAA tournament. Mt. Juliet finished 6-6 in district play, fifth in District 12-AAA, according to MaxPreps.
Portland coach Taylor Meadows credited the Lady Bears after the match, as first reported by the Lebanon Democrat. "I think Mt. Juliet wanted the match more than us," Meadows said. "We had some distractions with it being senior night and the fact we had beaten them earlier in the season."
No set came easy. Mt. Juliet trailed in each of the final two sets before rallying. In the second set, Portland built a 13-9 lead, but the Lady Bears fought through six ties to win 27-25. In the third, Portland led 7-3 before Mt. Juliet clawed back to tie it at 8-8 and eventually closed out the 25-23 win.
Stephens arrived at Mt. Juliet after building winning programs at Friendship Christian and Franklin Road Academy. His roster featured several players among the district's statistical leaders at the season's midpoint.
Junior outside hitter McKenna Kistemaker led District 12-AAA in kills with 163 and ranked fourth in digs with 156, according to mjsportszone.com. Junior setter Maddie Marks ranked second in the district with 417 assists. Senior middle blocker Kristine Lee ranked fourth in total blocks and fifth in hitting percentage at .238.
Sophomore libero Sadie Nichols ranked fifth in the district in digs with 155.
The district tournament did not go the Lady Bears' way. Mt. Juliet fell to Hendersonville in five sets on Monday, Oct. 5, at Portland High School. The loss ended the Lady Bears' season at 20-18 overall.
