Tennessee volleyball commitment Lily Felts leads Berean Christian to first state title

MURFREESBORO — When Lily Felts was named MVP, the Berean Christian student section had a different three-letter chant for her: “S-E-C.”

Felts is committed to Tennessee and was the only DI commitment on the floor in the TSSAA Class A Volleyball State Championship. Everyone was made very aware by both student sections as she led Berean to its first state title with a 3-0 over South Greene.

When she did something good, the Berean students chanted “S-E-C.” When she something went wrong, the South Greene section offered “overrated.” Everyone knew she was a difference-maker.

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Felts admits it’s a lot of pressure, but says she’s gotten to the point of looking forward to knowing both student sections will be chanting at her.

“It’s a journey,” coach Cory Felts, her father, said after the 25-17, 25-23, 25-16 win. “No girl can handle that eighth, ninth grade. The funny thing is she was a kind of a shy kid. There were girls who were so much better but as she’s been immersed in it, she’s got there.”

Felts made 34 kills, more than anyone else took in a three-set match on Thursday, and that was still almost 20 fewer than the state record she set a week ago.

Everyone at Murphy Center knew match point was going to Felts. Amanda Singleton bump set her from across the court and Felts put it down with a perfect line hit. No one on South Greene’s side even had time to move.

That comes from what Felts is used to seeing with K2 Volleyball Club, where there might be five DI commitments on each side.

Cory Felts suggested it’s good for her development to play on one team where she’s one of many against the best competition and another where she’s had to be “the one” and live up to that pressure.

“To develop a great player, it has to be a combination of both,” he said.