By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

Troup High’s volleyball team dropped a five-set thriller to Smiths Station on Monday in a tune-up for the area tournament at Chapel Hill.

Following Monday’s match, the team’s seniors were recognized, and those players have been a part of some special moments over the years, including a memorable win in the state playoffs a year ago.

The seniors are Kyla Bailey, McKenzie Murphy, Morgan Taylor, Paige Clark, Maegan Webb, Taylor Doughman and Kate Moore.

Troup will participate in the double-elimination area tournament on Tuesday, and it needs two wins to qualify for state.

Troup, the number five seed, will play fourth-seeded Cedartown at 5 p.m.

If Troup beats Cedartown, it would play top-seeded Sandy Creek in the next round.

Troup could lose to Sandy Creek and still have an opportunity to earn one of the area’s four spots in the state tournament.

“We need to win twice to make it to state and keep going,” said Troup head coach Leigh Bailey. “If we lose two, we’re going home. It’s that simple. We’ll know tomorrow. Hopefully we can pull it out.”

Troup and Smiths Station went back-and-forth, splitting the first four sets to set up the winner-take-all fifth set.

Three times in the fifth set Troup had match point, but Smiths Station hung tough and won the final three points to earn the 27-25 win.

“It’s disappointing that we can’t finish out something that’s so close,” Bailey said. “But I’d rather lose today than lose tomorrow.”

As for the seniors, Bailey said “they’re not ready for it to be over, and I’m not ready for it to be over.”