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It went down to the wire, but the 2025 season came to an end for Coffee County volleyball Thursday evening.

Taking on Columbia in the semifinals of the District 9-AAA tournament at Tullahoma High School, the two teams went the distance, but it was the Lady Raiders who went home early in a 3-2 loss.

“We played great tonight. I don’t want to take nothing away from our girls. The ball just didn’t fall a couple of times our way and gave them a point, gave them a boost. When it did fall our way, it went the other direction,” Coffee County coach Jon Spears said. “That fifth set, you’ve gotta come out ready. They just had a few more extra points.”

After Columbia jumped out to an 8-4 lead early in the first set, Coffee County proceeded to take control by winning the next 10 points. The Lady Raiders went on to win the set 25-19 and take a 1-0 match lead.

A close second set followed, with the two teams in a tight competition throughout. Tied at 18-18, the Lady Lions broke off with seven of the next eight points to win 25-19 and tie the match at 1-1.

Looking to retake the overall lead, Coffee County took the first three points of the third set to jump ahead early. Columbia was able to keep it manageable, but the Lady Raiders never trailed on the way to winning the set 25-20 to go back up 2-1.

Now on the cusp of advancing to the district championship, Coffee County once again took a 3-0 lead to open the fourth set. The Lady Lions did not let them break off any further, beginning yet another close contest. Tied at 22-22 late in the set, Columbia went on to win the next three points to win 25-22 and even the match at 2-2.

The Lady Lions carried this momentum into the decisive fifth set, taking off for an early 4-1 lead. Coffee County battled back to tie it up at 6-6, but Columbia went on to win the following nine points to win 15-6 and hand the Lady Raiders a season-ending defeat.

“I’m very pleased with how our younger girls developed and I’m looking forward to next season,” Spears said. “We’ll give them a couple weeks off and then we’ll get in the weight room and start working for next year.”

Hayleigh Harris led the Lady Raiders in kills with 12. Allysa Goon followed with 10 to finish just ahead of Morgen Spears with nine. Carrington Saner added five kills. Up next was Danni Hillis with four. Paisley Dyer had one kill.

Harris also was the team’s aces leader with five on the match. Andon Selvog recorded three. Cailey Sturgill followed with two aces. Taylor Brinkley had one.

Hillis and Harris shared the top spot for blocks with two each. Saner had one.

Selvog led the way in assists with 18, finishing just ahead of Brinkley with 17. Jenslee Nogodula had two assists.

Nogodula took the top spot for digs with 13. Hillis followed with 11. Harris was credited with 10. Up next was Selvog with eight digs. Brinkley came away with seven. Goon picked up four digs. Saner added two. Dyer had one dig.

Following the district championship, Goon, Spears and Hillis were recognized as members of the all-district team. Nogodula and Harris were named to the all-tournament team.

Coffee County finishes the season with a 17-7 overall record.