By David Perry
The Covington Lady Chargers are once again the queens of the region. In one of the most intense matches of the season, Covington battled past the Millington Trojans in a five-set thriller Tuesday night on their home court to win their third straight Region Championship and secure a spot in Thursday’s sectionals. The Lady Chargers took the match 3–2 (19–25, 25–21, 25–19, 15–25, 15–9) in front of a roaring Covington crowd.
Millington came out strong, taking the first set 25–19 as Covington struggled to settle in. The Trojans’ serving and front-row pressure forced the Lady Chargers into several early mistakes, giving Millington the upper hand.
But Covington quickly regrouped. Behind outside hitter Ava McCalla, the Lady Chargers turned the tide in the second set. McCalla’s powerful swings and steady serving gave Covington momentum, while Caroline Cole kept the offense flowing with quick, accurate sets. The Lady Chargers evened the match with a 25–21 win, then carried that momentum into the third set, where their defense took control. Kale Wheeler and Kenleigh Jacobs kept rallies alive with strong serve receiving and hustle plays, helping Covington win the third set 25–19.
Millington wasn’t going down without a fight. The Trojans caught fire in the fourth set, jumping ahead early and never looking back in a 25–15 win that forced a decisive fifth set. With the region title on the line, Covington dug deep and showed why they’ve become one of the top programs in West Tennessee. The Lady Chargers raced out to a quick lead and finished strong, winning the final set 15–9 to clinch the championship.
McCalla led the charge with an outstanding 25 kills, four aces, 10 digs, and 15 serve receives. Cole paced the offense with 35 assists, adding 12 digs and a kill. Jacobs anchored the back row with 12 digs, 16 serve receives, three aces, and two kills, while Wheeler added 15 digs, 25 serve receives, and one assist. Rowan Maxwell contributed seven kills, and Kinslee Hamm added two aces, one block, one kill, and three digs.
Head coach Mary Grace Palmer said she was proud of how her players stayed composed when the match got tight.
“I ain’t going to lie,” Palmer said. “I was scared at the end, but they pulled through and did what they had to do.”
Palmer said her team made key adjustments after the slow start that helped swing the momentum back in their favor.
“We had to tell them what they needed to do,” she said. “They needed to throw off Millington. Once they started playing their game and trusting each other, everything started to fall into place.”
The victory marks Covington’s third straight region championship, a rare feat that Palmer credits to her players’ teamwork, focus, and confidence.
“We just got to know who we are, know our worth, and go from there,” Palmer said. “When we play with confidence, we can beat anyone.”
With the region crown secured, the Lady Chargers now turn their attention to the sectional round, where they’ll face the Crockett County Cavaliers on Thursday. A win there would send Covington to the TSSAA State Tournament, giving them another chance to extend their postseason legacy.
Once again, the Lady Chargers proved that championship grit and home-court pride still run deep in Covington — and for the third year in a row, they remain the undisputed queens of the region.
