PHOTO GALLERY: RCS, SMS advance in Area 2 tourney

Editor’s Note: Due to the deadlines for the Weekend edition, coverage of Thursday’s semifinal and championship games will be included in the Oct. 9 Midweek edition.

ROGERSVILLE — The Rogersville City School Lady Warriors defeated the Rogersville Middle School Lady Warriors in the TMSAA Class A Area 2 volleyball tournament on Tuesday, winning in straight sets 25-15 and 25-18.

“That wasn’t our best showing, but I’m proud of the way they closed out the game,” RCS coach Serenity Ewing said. “I think we have a lot of potential, but it’s just, ‘Will we play up to our potential?’ We practice tomorrow and Thursday we have a very big game. I think they can win the whole thing if they show up.”

All the first-round winners won in straight sets, 2-0. Other first-round winners included No. 5 Surgoinsville, which defeated No. 4 Sulphur Springs; No. 3 Boones Creek, which defeated No. 6 Gray; and No. 2 Ridgeview, which defeated No. 7 Fall Branch.

The tournament, being played at Cherokee High School, was set to continue Thursday with the semifinals and championship. RCS advanced to face Surgoinsville on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 5 p.m. in the first semifinal, while Boones Creek was set to meet Ridgeview at 6:15 p.m. in the second semifinal.

The top two teams earn an automatic berth in the TMSAA Section 1-A tournament on Saturday, Oct. 5, at John Sevier. The winning team from each of the state’s eight sectional tournaments will advance to the Class A state championships.