Lady Bears use whole team effort to repeat as Region 2D champs

BRISTOL, Va. — Generally when people write stories about Union’s volleyball team, the name Emili Brooks will be included. And after setting the VHSL all-time kill record, it makes perfect sense. But, this season, the entire team stepped up their games and rebounded from a slow start to win the Region 2D championship...again.

“We have a really good team attitude right now,” Union head coach Kim Moore said. “Nobody cares who gets the credit. If you had seen us at the beginning of the season and seen how far we have come to accomplish Region D champs? It’s a big deal.”

Union came into the current season with a lot of question marks. Coach Moore had to replace her setter and libero as well as losing a key hitter and several all-around players. Then during summer basketball, Mountain 7 and Region 2D player of the year Brooks was injured and had to have surgery on her wrist before she could return to action.

She found some some stability in freshmen junior varsity recruits Brooke Bailey at setter and Isabella Blagg at libero.

Blagg started the season as a hitter who plays all-around the court. But, after the Lady Bears struggled on defense, Moore took a chance. She gave Blagg her first shot in the orange jersey during the September 25 game at John Battle.

“It honestly just feels like a dream come true,” Blagg said. “I love libero. It was a little bit hard to transition because I have never done it before, but I really like it a lot.”

Bailey has only been playing volleyball for two years now. But, halfway through her first year, the coaching staff recognized her abilities and moved her to the setter position.

“At first I was a hitter and playing all the way around. Then she (Moore) told me I had good ‘setter hands’. We started the year with two setters, but now it’s just me,” Bailey said.

“Those two have played key roles for us. It takes more than just the finishers. We have to get the ball to them. Those two have played big and stayed steady all year,” Moore said of the freshman team.

Brooks and Jayda Smith lead the team from an offensive standpoint not just in the tournament, but throughout the season.

“We rely heavily on those two,” Moore said. “But we couldn’t do it without the back row and the setter. It really is a team effort in volleyball.”

Both Blagg and Bailey were quick to praise Brooks, Smith and the rest of the senior leadership on the team for all of the support during their learning curve over the season.

“They’re always there to pick us up,” Bailey said. “Even if I make a bad play, I know they’re going to be there for me.”

“They’re always just encouraging us,” Blagg said. “They never try to make me feel bad.”

This will be the first trip to state for both Bailey and Blagg. After being built up by a supportive coaching staff and team in this season, both players sport a “bring it on” attitude.

“We’re excited,” both claimed when asked if they were more nervous or anticipatory.

“We just have to come in and get the job done,” Bailey said.

“We’ve got to have a lot of energy and play our game,” Blagg followed.

After finishing as runners-up in the regular season and Mountain 7 tournament to a strong 3A Abingdon squad, the Lady Bears have annihilated the remainder of the competition. Other than the loss to Abingdon in the district tournament championship game, they have won the last nine games in straight sets.

In winning the regional tournament, the Lady Bears will host second-seeded Floyd County Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Bear Den. In a season that started off slowly, but has accelerated to a full-on blast, coach Moore is just happy to have a third-straight shot at a state title.

“I’m just glad we live another day to play some volleyball,” Moore said.