Winners of seven of their last eight, including going 3-0 en route to a 3A North regional championship in Paris, the Charleston Lady Tigers are one of the hottest teams in volleyball right now. Charleston will look to keep this momentum rolling on Tuesday at the 3A state tournament in Quitman.
Charleston won the North Regional tournament last week against host team Paris in dramatic fashion, beating the Lady Eagles in the final in dramatic fashion, coming from behind to win in five sets 3-2. The Lady Tigers finished 7-5 in the 3A-1 conference, earning fourth place in the regular season. But Charleston has delivered when its mattered most in the postseason.
“Finishing 7-5 in conference could have easily defined our season,” said Charleston’s head volleyball coach Michelle Werschem. “To enter the postseason in fourth place and reel off four straight wins for a regional championship speaks volumes about who these girls are.”
In the 3A-1 conference tournament, Charleston won two out of three matches, their only loss coming against Lavaca in a close five set match, 3-2. This was the Lady Tigers only loss of the postseason, as they would go on to defeat Paris in the third-place game, and then took care of business against Quitman, Providence Academy, and Paris to win the 3A North Regional tournament and earn the 1-seed.
Charleston has had several players contribute this season. Sophomore co-captain Anna Kate Lovett leads the team with 221 kills, and has also added 25 aces. Senior Ella Dodson leads the team with 16 blocks. Junior Tessley Middleton has contributed 25 aces, tied for the lead with Lovett. Senior co-captain Emery Rowland leads the Lady Tigers with 209 digs, while junior Kinley Morgan leads the team with 264 assists.
“A run like this takes contributions from everyone, starting with our senior leaders,” said Werschem. “Ella Dodson has been a force at the net, leading us in blocks and frustrating hitters with her composure and timing.”
Coach Werschem also had strong words for what her senior co-captain Emery Rowland has meant to the team.
“Our libero and senior captain, Emery Rowland, anchors us emotionally and defensively,” she said. “Her controlled passes in serve receive make our entire offense run, and her maturity through four years of coaching changes has set the standard for this program.”
Werschem is also proud of how her seniors have responded considering what they have had to endure so far.
“Our seniors have endured four different head coaches in four years,” she said. “That kind of change creates a lot of uncertainty, and it takes immense courage to keep resetting, trusting a new process, and believing in a new staff every single year.”
The Lady Tigers finished 4-12 in conference in 2024, and came away winless in the postseason. In 2025, Charleston fifth in the conference at 7-8, and went 1-4 in the postseason. But the 2026 Lady Tigers are here to show they’re ready and capable for the big stage.
“They have played with a real chip on their shoulder because Charleston volleyball hasn’t seen this kind of postseason success in recent years,” said Werschem. “They felt like they had something to prove – not just to the area – but themselves. That sheer determination and refusal to give up turned every struggle from the past four years into fuel.”
Charleston has seen plenty of contributions from some of the younger Lady Tigers as well.
“Junior Tessley Middleton has moved to a full six-rotation role and has become a deadly scorer who tools off blocks, while reading hitters masterfully on the back row,” said Werschem. “Junior Ella Dahlem took on middle blocker role for the first time, grinding through the learning curve to deliver hugs plays in the regional final alongside a dangerous jump float serve.”
“In the backcourt and on the attack, sophomore Anna Kate Lovett brings an elite competitive edge,” added Werschem. “Her quick arm swing and court vision allow her to make plays most athletes don’t see.”
“And at setter, we had a massive void after graduation. Junior Kinley Morgan and freshman Lily Stockton worked tirelessly in a high-pressure role to keep our offense fluid and deliver in key moments.”
The regional championship has earned Charleston a first-round bye, so they will not play on the first day of action on Monday. I asked Coach Werschem about the importance of earning that first-round bye.
“Having that first-round bye and an extra day of rest gives our legs time to recover so we can play at our highest speed and energy level,” she said. “The girls didn’t love every workout back in September, but they see the payoff now when they’re pushing through grueling five-set matches, sometimes three days in a row.”
On Tuesday at 2 p.m., Charleston will face off against the winner of Central Arkansas Christian and Bergman, with that match slated for 2 p.m. on Monday.
The CAC Lady Mustangs come in as the 3-seed from the south, with a record of 12-10, and 4-3 in the 3A-4 conference.
Bergman is the 4-seed from the east, but the Lady Panthers compiled an impressive 20-7-1 record, and 10-2 in the 3A-2 conference to earn first place in the regular season. They fell to Harrisburg and Newport in their regional to drop down to the 4-seed for the state tournament.
Other teams in the local area that are in the state tournament include Lavaca and Paris. Lavaca finished first in the conference regular season with a 10-2 record, while Paris finished third with a 9-4 record. Lavaca earned the fourth seed after the regional tournament, so they will face 3-seed Newport on Monday at noon. Paris earned the 2-seed after the regional tournament, and will face 4-seed Mayflower on Monday at 4 p.m.
All games in the state tournament will be at Quitman high school in Quitman, Arkansas.
