WCHS Athlete of the Week

Three matches into the season, Sloan Youngblood has already made her mark.

Youngblood was a force in all aspects as the WCHS volleyball team ripped off three victories in a span of four days, helping the Lady Pioneers open the season 3-0 overall and 2-0 in District 7-3A play. Her performance earned her recognition as the Main Street Journal’s Reddick Brown Ford WCHS Athlete of the Week for Aug. 16-22.

Across wins over Cannon County, Wilson Central and LaVergne, Youngblood led Warren County with 31 kills, finishing as the Lady Pioneers’ kill leader in all three matches. She also totaled 21 digs, two aces, two assists and a block, providing production in nearly every phase of the game.

Youngblood set the tone in Monday’s season opener at Cannon County. She hammered home 11 kills while adding five digs and an ace as Warren County shook off some early jitters and rolled to a 25-18, 25-9 and 25-11 sweep of the Lionettes.

Coach Erin Blalock was particularly impressed with Youngblood’s ability to find openings in Cannon County's defense.

“We saw Sloan hitting lights out,” Blalock said of Youngblood following Monday’s victory in Woodbury. “She was picking out spots on the court she wanted to hit, and she was doing that well.”

Youngblood followed with arguably her most complete performance of the week Tuesday when the Lady Pioneers returned home to face Wilson Central in their District 7-3A opener. Warren County was pushed to four sets, but Youngblood delivered on both ends with a team-high 11 kills and 13 digs as the Lady Pioneers prevailed 25-18, 22-25, 25-20 and 27-25.

Two nights later, Youngblood helped Warren County cap a perfect opening week against LaVergne, once again leading the Lady Pioneers with nine kills while adding three digs, a block and an assist in a dominant 25-13, 25-12 and 25-15 sweep.

The fast start has been about more than one player, with Warren County displaying plenty of depth across the front row. Blalock praised the Lady Pioneers' ability to attack from multiple spots after the LaVergne victory, noting that WCHS doesn't have to rely on a single option to put the ball away.

Youngblood, however, was the most consistent finisher during the opening stretch, leading the team in kills each night while making her biggest defensive impact during Warren County's toughest match of the week.

Three matches into the season, that consistency has helped the Lady Pioneers get exactly the start they were looking for while earning Youngblood the first Main Street Journal WCHS Athlete of the Week honor of the fall.