CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Clarksville High Wildcats and Science Hill Hilltoppers met up for a TSSAA volleyball state quarterfinals showdown on Tuesday, Oct. 21. CHS fell three sets to none, ending their historic run at the state title in their first state tournament appearance in program history.

The match went back-and-forth to start out, with neither team having more than a two-point lead in the first set until Science Hill took a 16-13 lead, which led to a Wildcats timeout. Science Hill then pulled away late for a 25-18 set win.

The Wildcats came out with a fire under them to begin the second set and were able to build a 8-4 lead to put some pressure on the Toppers. However, Science Hill battled back to tie the contest at nine all, and the second set played out exactly as the first did, with the Toppers pulling away late, winning 25-19 to take a commanding 2-0 set lead.

“It was frustrating because we were uncharacteristic today,” Wildcats head coach Glen Fox told Clarksville Now. “We corrected some things, but we struggled with continuity, not being able to run some of our plays. We were competitive in every set; we just couldn’t get over the hill.”

| MORE: ‘Like a second family to me’: Soccer’s biggest fan in Clarksville doesn’t play favorites

Science Hill took an early four-point lead in set three, and while the rest of the set was back and forth, Clarksville High could never string together enough points to climb out of the hole. CHS fell 25-18 in the third set, sending them to the consolation bracket.

The Wildcats will play at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow against an opponent who will be determined at a later date and will play for third place in the state the rest of the week.

While it won’t end with a gold ball, this season has been a historic one for Clarksville High, and for the city of Clarksville, for that matter. To Fox, no matter where they end up this week, it doesn’t define the success of this year.

“Even though we’re not going to win a title, it’s still a successful season,” Fox said. “We still have a lot to play for. This is in an atmosphere that you want to play in and learn to thrive. This one stings, and it should, but it’s an opportunity for us to get better.”

| DOWNLOAD THE APP: Sign up for our free Clarksville Now app