2025 High School Volleyball preview
Lady Bulldogs look to answer key questions
Knoxville – As Bearden High School prepares for the upcoming 2025 volleyball season, it will look to answer key questions. The Lady Bulldogs must replace some key players who graduated following the 2024 campaign.
Bearden went 24-11 last season before being eliminated by Kingston Pike rival Farragut in the semifinals of the District 4-AAA Tournament. The Lady Bulldogs, who open the 2025 campaign at home against Christian Academy of Knoxville on Tuesday, Aug. 19, have five key
returners back from last
year’s squad, which finished second in the regular-season district standings.
One, however, is injured but hoping to make a return in to the lineup at some point during the regular season. Bearden looks to navigate a difficult league schedule, which includes matches against Maryville and the Lady Admirals (which both made it to the Class AAA State Tournament in Murfreesboro), Hardin Valley Academy, Knoxville West, William Blount and district newcomer Karns, which moves over from District 3. Heritage was moved to District 2 due to TSSAA re-alignment. The Lady Mountaineers were long a competitive force in the league before departing.
Fourth-year head coach Kaitlyn Davidson again expects the league to be ultra-competitive. She noted, however, that the Lady Governors could be the favorite.
“William Blount is going to really be the team to watch,” Davidson said. “Other than that, a lot of people lost a lot across the board, so after that, the district is going to be wide open, and it’s just going to come down to who wants it and who wants it more.”
Key returners for the Lady Bulldogs, according to Davidson, include:
Sophie Reichert (senior, setter);
Alyssa Spradlin (a senior outside hitter, who is recovering from an injury but hopes to make a return during the 2025 campaign); Finley Wright (senior, libero); Ella McDonald (senior, middle blocker) and Lila Sutton (junior, middle blocker).
Davidson said the strength of Bearden’s 2025 squad will be its chemistry as players prepare to fill new roles.
“We’re going to have to have people step up,” she said. “Some people are going to have to fill new roles.
“But our biggest strength is going to be our chemistry. We have a good group of girls who are pretty good, both on and off the court. The trust is there.”
The lone area of concern is remaining healthy.
“Our concern is keeping our players healthy,” Davidson said. “Other than that, there are no concerns.”
