Permenter, Panthers Prepare For Soddy Daisy

For the first time in 15 years Stone Memorial girls’ volleyball are regional tournament winners and head coach Tori Permenter said this team’s story is not over yet.

The Panthers took out Central Magnet and district rival Cumberland County in one night to be crowned champions. Permenter now has her eyes set on the sectional match-up with Soddy-Daisy Thursday night.

“It’s not so much what I’m expecting from Soddy-Daisy, but more so what am I expecting from my girls,” Permenter said. “We want to play our game and when we play our game, I feel like our region and district has really prepared us for this sectional game.”

This season has seen Stone play cross town rival CCHS three times, beating the Jets twice and losing to them in the district final. Permenter said she is always impressed with the Jets and the way they play.

“CCHS is definitely a good program,” Permenter said. “Rodney has done so good over there and the girls have done a great job as well. And we were down 14-11 in the 5th set and came back and won 17-15, you don’t really hear about that often. So, I’m just really proud of my girls for not giving up and it’s a huge momentum booster heading into the sectional game tomorrow night.”

With Cumberland County on fall break, the volleyball team does not have classes and homework to worry about. Permenter said while she wishes more students would be at the sectional game tomorrow, the break is an advantage for the team.

“I think it works out that it’s on fall break,” Permenter said. “It’s harder to keep them out of the gym, they constantly want to be in the gym over fall break. They’re really focused and dialed in which is great.”

Stone hosts Soddy-Daisy in a sectional match-up Thursday at 5:30pm.