Athletics News

Season Recap: Varsity Volleyball

Embracing change leads to personal growth and success. That's exactly what the 2024 Lady Indians volleyball team did. Playing in an all-new association in GIAA, surrounded by some old foes and new region opponents, and with a young, inexperienced roster, TFS excelled in what was another historic season.

With still two holdovers from the 2022 State Championship team — junior Rebecca Heyl and senior Chesney Tanksley, the roster still had that DNA present. However, a couple freshmen were thrust into action, along with other first-year varsity players. The freshmen duo of Ca'Rin Swinton and Lily Smith, combined with sophomore Shelby Whisnant, exceeded expectations and became reliable playmakers.

Junior newcomers from Spain Laura Ruiz Rendon and Margalida Amengual Sanchez anchored down starting roles and played very well. Add in senior veterans Jace Ibemere, Caroline Smith, Julia Smith, Tanksley, and roster was fairly balanced. The result? A 26-win season that closed with a trip to the Elite 8 for only the second time in program history.

Through the first 28 matches, Tallulah Falls held a respectable 14-14 mark. Several youngsters improved on the job, and made the necessary adjustments to the speed of the varsity level. From there, the girls began to click. The rest of the season, TFS went 12-2, falling only in the Region Championship match and then in the Elite 8, both to top-5 ranked teams. The Lady Indians tallied a 9-1 region record, and finished as Runner-Up in Region 4-AAA. The 26 wins included five against state-ranked opponents, and a 10-match win streak which represents the second-best streak in school history. In the opening round of state — the Sweet 16 — the Lady Indians rolled past Stratford Academy, a #9-ranked program, in straight sets.

Several players put up big numbers throughout the campaign, including Heyl, who led the team in kills (255) and digs (293), and was third in aces (79) earning All-Region honors. Joining her on the All-Region list included Sanchez and Swinton. Sanchez, who joined with Tanksley as the key setters, led in assists (457), and had 130 kills, 257 digs, and the second-most aces (87). Swinton was a force at the net, notching a team-high 39 blocks while chipping in with 131 kills and 107 digs.

Rendon had 285 digs, 124 kills, and 43 aces, and Whisnant at one point was one of the nation's top servers while totaling a team-high 107 aces (96.5% serve), adding 121 kills and 125 digs. Among the many highlights of the season also included Tanksley topping 1,000 career assists, landing third on the all-time list. Julia Smith also had a memorable performance when collected a single-match record of 30 digs. The top wins of the season included wins over #4 Loganville Christian, #9 Stratford (Sweet 16), #9 South Gibson County (TN), #9 Lakeview, and #9 Union County.

Coach Matt Heyl, who is now at 186 career wins and closing in on 200, guided the Lady Indians to a 10th straight playoff trip. Under his guidance, the program has tallied five Region Runner-Up and two Region Championship finishes, and have made the Sweet 16 or further in six out of seven seasons in his tenure.

Though five seniors — those aforementioned along with manager Ella Akers — depart, the future remains bright with the rest of the roster intact and several up-and-coming JV and middle school talents.