After competing in the area tournament Oct. 6-8, the Morgan County Spike Dogs (23-17) ended the regular season as 3A Region 2 champions. With another region title under their belt, the back-to-back defending state champions are looking ahead, hoping for another deep playoff run.
Following the recent tournament, several athletes earned All-Region honors, including junior libero Brayden Burke as defense player of the year and sophomore Setter Mallory Davidson and junior Setter Graycen Cawthon on the first team. Junior defensive specialist Bailey Dennard earned second-team honors, and sophomore Nevaeh Bragg and Senior Hailey Floyd received honorable mentions.
“I think we did what we needed to do to secure a good placement for state; the girls just executed their part and did what they had to do to make sure we got that last win for region,” said Ryan Sarrett, head coach of the Spike Dogs. “We knew we were coming to a much more competitive region than in years past, so there were obviously more players in the pool that were able to stand up and produce stats and be rewarded for that.”
With the move to a new region as part of the 2026-28 GHSA cycle, Sarrett considers the roster’s various region honors as a “testament” to their continued efforts throughout the regular season. He noted seeing a lot of “mental growth” from his players over the regular season, as there are many younger athletes in the lineup.
“At the beginning of the season, everything looked good, but we went through a few injuries
SKYLA MORRIS/Staff and had some girls that were playing different spots,” Sarrett said. “We continue to battle and find ways to find small wins, and sometimes they’d even get the big win and win a match.”
Sarrett said multiple athletes began taking more prominent leadership roles over the regular season, helping to “change the culture” of the team for the better.
“They’ve definitely stepped up to that challenge and change the culture on the floor for the better,” Sarrett said. “It’s been very valuable in the last few weeks of the season, and I’ve told them in person that I’m proud of the way they’ve changed the culture of the team and the changes they’ve made.”
With the upcoming postseason, Sarrett said he hopes his players can remain consistent during the competition and quickly combat mistakes.
“I want to make sure the girls come out there and earn the points that they need to earn,” Sarrett said. “As the teams get stronger, the mistakes may come sooner, and we just have to learn to get to that next point.”
Overall, Sarrett said he remains confident in his players’ efforts through the postseason, and believes they have the potential to make it deep into the playoffs. He considers the team an “especially young crew” and sees the upcoming postseason as a good opportunity for valuable experience.
“I think there’s a strong possibility for us to make a good run at the final four again. Maybe even get a big win and make it to the finals,” Sarrett said. “The girls are definitely excited, and I’m excited to see that experience come through.”