Lady Mavericks embrace AAA move
Anderson County’s Emerie Bullock is among the returning players for the Lady Mavericks, who enter the 2025 volleyball season with a tradition of postseason success.
“We always expect to reach the state tournament,” said Smith, who enters her 16th season leading her alma mater.
“It doesn’t matter if we’re in AA or AAA,” she said. “We’ve always played those bigger schools. We just have to be ourselves, win the district, win the region and get to the sectional to have a chance at state.”
The Lady Mavericks now compete in District 3-AAA alongside crosstown rival Clinton, Oak Ridge, Knoxville Halls, Knoxville Central, Powell, Campbell County and Gibbs.
The Gibbs Lady Eagles also moved up after reaching the Class AA state tournament last fall. Anderson County knocked them out.
Returning standouts include senior middle blocker Makenzie Wilkerson; senior back-row player Emee Blackburn; junior back-row player Emerie Bullock; and junior setter Bethany Lowe. Key newcomers are sophomore setter Julia Owens, sophomore middle blocker Khloe Wilkerson and freshman middle blocker Lilly McCormick.
Smith said the jump in classification won’t change the program’s approach.
Clinton is the two-time district champion and hasn’t lost a league match in two years, while Oak Ridge, despite last season’s struggles, reached the Region 2-AAA tournament. Halls, Powell and Central are all improving.
“Everybody plays their best matches against us,” Smith said.
The Lady Mavs open the 2025 season at Lakeway Christian on Monday, Aug. 18, then host Oak Ridge the next day before traveling to Clinton on Aug. 21.
When Anderson County faces the Lady Wildcats, Smith will square off against a familiar face.
Oak Ridge’s new head coach, Meghan Ellis, is an Anderson County graduate who once played for Smith.
“It’s hard to coach against your friends,” Smith said.
“But I’d rather face them knowing they care about their players and are willing to put in the work.”
