Recently, members of the 1991 South-Doyle Lady Cherokees A/AA Tennessee State Volleyball Championship team were recognized at halftime of the South-Doyle vs. Carter football game. The Lady Cherokees are the only team in the KIL to have won a state volleyball title. Only South-Doyle and Anderson Co. have achieved that goal out of all the PrepExtra schools.

Coach Ed Irvin, recently retired Seymour volleyball coach, directed the South-Doyle the team that was in its first year of existence. It was the first fall season after the South-Young and Doyle high schools consolidated into South-Doyle.

“It was like the perfect storm”, commented Coach Irvin. “We (Doyle) won the regional tournament in 1990 large division, we were then reclassified into the small division, and then it was announced that we were consolidating. Regardless, TSSAA kept us in the small division.”

After winning the district league and tournament, the regional tournament, and sub-state, the team traveled to Chattanooga for the state tournament. “We faced only private schools on the way to the title,” commented Irvin. After finishing second in pool play, the team defeated two-time defending champion Briarcrest in the semi-finals and Harpeth Hall in the finals. Both matches were won in two games.
“It was really good to see the girls and their families after all of these years. It was a special group of girls and parents,” said Irvin.

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