Maryville’s Mary Childress (left) and Blakelyn Upward.
BY DAVE LINK
ALCOA – Maryville’s volleyball team flexed its muscle Monday night with two victories to start the 2026 season.
And they weren’t just everyday victories by Maryville.
Coached by Chris Hames, the Lady Rebels defeated Catholic 25-18, 13-25, 25-20 in the season-opening match pitting two of the area’s top programs each year.
In their second match, the Lady Rebels beat Webb School of Knoxville 21-25, 25-14, 25-20, in a match featuring Chris Hames going against her daughter, Lady Spartans’ coach Nicklin Hames.
Before coaching at Maryville, Chris Hames coached at Webb, and with Nicklin playing for the Lady Spartans, the mother-daughter duo won five Division II-A state championships from 2013-17.
Nicklin became an All-American setter at Nebraska and is in her second season as Webb’s coach.
“Last year (Nicklin) beat me, so now I get dibs,” Chris Hames said.
In Monday’s other matches, Webb beat Alcoa 25-18, 25-15, and Catholic beat Alcoa 25-8, 25-14.
Here are some highlights from the action:
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