Science Hill’s volleyball team made quick work of Greeneville with a 25-13, 25-6, 25-13 victory on Senior Night, but the Hilltoppers were kind hosts.
In fact, Science Hill allowed Greeneville to celebrate its Senior Night as well.
Greeneville High School is still without water due to Hurricane Helene. So Science Hill coach Laura Cook was eager to give Greene Devils counterpart Sara Aiken a home away from home.
“I talked to Sara yesterday, and she really wanted to get them out and have a Senior Night,” Science Hill coach Laura Cook said. “So I said, ‘Let’s do it together.’ What was really special was we were here yesterday and our underclassmen were decorating our locker room, and they said, ‘Hey, we’re running to Dollar Tree. We don’t have any green.’ So they ran got stuff and decorated Greeneville’s locker room.
“It was just really special and heartfelt. We really ache for them. So anything we can do to help them, we wanted to do that.”
Even in defeat it was a welcome change of pace, Aiken said, after an emotionally grueling 72 hours. Greeneville players were able to shower at Freedom Hall following the match.
“Their daily structures are all up in the air, but they’re lucky they got to come out and play volleyball tonight,” Aiken said. “And we’re super blessed that Science Hill was such a gracious host and allowed us to have Senior Night, because our seniors didn’t get to have Senior Night at their gym. So it was really amazing what the Science Hill program did for our girls tonight.
“The network of area volleyball coaches and assistant coaches – they are amazing. They have done so much to help different programs throughout the years. But to be affected directly, where they’ve allowed us to come in and make this our second home for the night, it’s been telling how cool people around here are.”
Science Hill (30-5) was decidedly less gracious once the match began. After Greeneville jumped out to a 3-0 lead, Science Hill answered with 11 straight points that included several of Chloe Conner’s seven aces.
The outcome was out of doubt for the remainder of the match. Chelsea Blaine and Addi Stables each had seven kills and fellow senior Ella Neal assisted 19 kills for the Hilltoppers.
Science Hill’s senior class includes Claire Hunter (one kill), Campbell Hixson (eight digs) and Avery Bragg (six digs).
“I really can’t say enough good things about my seniors,” Science Hill coach Laura Cook said. “It’s a good group. They really are special, all six of ‘em. They’re just precious and they love this team.
“They’ve done a good job leading this team from the very beginning since preseason, through practices, the good times, the tough times. I wouldn’t want to go to battle with anybody else.”
A few tears streaked Cook’s cheeks by the time she was finished commending her seniors. Stables, who also had 11 digs, was on the brink of tears, too.
“When they say that it goes by fast and you need to cherish every moment, they really mean that,” Stables said. “What we’ve developed here is family, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Shout-out to Coach Cook.”
Neal has been playing with a fractured finger the past several weeks. It hurts, but not like Senior Night.
“The environment here is like nothing else,” Neal said. “My coaches – I know they have my back all the time. They’re amazing people.
“Coach Cook is awesome. Coach (Brittany) Hensley, Coach (Lindsay) Richards, Coach (Wendy) Ratliff – I love them all so much.”
Blaine had three blocks and an ace in the short match.
“It’s just great to get to be with all the people that I’ve played with for so long,” Blaine said. “It’s gonna be so hard to leave once we’re done. I feel like we’ve just created such a strong bond on this team and we all know we have each other’s backs. If anyone’s down, we’re gonna pick it up and play for ‘em.”
Greeneville seniors Trudi Aiken, Kyla Jobe and Destani Bailey were recognized prior to the match as well.
“The thing I respect about those three is that they have worked really hard to make improvements on their volleyball games,” Sara Aiken said. “One (Jobe) is committed to play softball at Tennessee. One is going to play volleyball at Walters State. Another one has overcome tons of obstacles. These three seniors are super special because they have given a lot to the program.”
Greeneville might not have water for another week or so. The players were able to shower at Liberty Bell on Monday after the match.
“They’re all affected,” Aiken said. “School is closed. None of them have water. Some of them just got power back on today. Some of their family members have lost everything.
“But we’re blessed because none of them lost their own homes and they’re all safe. So we couldn’t have been more lucky with that scenario.”
Science Hill will visit Tennessee High on Tuesday.
