OCT 11, 2024, marked the end of Coach Heather Minnis' 27th season (1998-present) as the Dickson Middle School Head Coach where she started the first volleyball program in Dickson County Schools in August 1998 under the direction of Dickson Junior High Principal Mr. Johnny Chandler. Our Athletic Director was Ray Ragan. The team was made up of 7th & 8th grade girls at DJHS. Tryouts were held in August and Coach Minnis called schools in the area to schedule matches. The team played Harpeth, Summertown, Nashville Christian, Fairview, and competed in the Sonic Invitational hosted by Freedom Middle (Coach Randy Stevens) in Franklin (Our jv and varsity teams played. Our DJHS assistant principal, Gala Rountree, helped coach the jv because they played at the same time). Due to the August start of the program, we used rolling standards and marked the lines on the floor with masking tape. In 1999, we purchased a net system, had sleeves added to our gym floor, and had Maroon lines painted for the court (Mr. Chandler let Coach Minnis choose the color).
2022 marked 25 years of volleyball in Dickson County (Coach Minnis & Mr. Chandler pictured above)
2022 marked 25 years of volleyball in Dickson County (Coach Minnis & Mr. Chandler pictured above)
Some of her teams' accomplishments include:
Coach Minnis' DMS varsity teams reached their 450th win on August 24, 2024, at the Mule Town Tournament against Battle Creek (team: Rebecca Dunnagan, Kylee Young, Desiray Daniel, Kenleigh Stevenson, Jodi Maddux, Briley Rollins, Jacie Lampley, Avery Greene, Claire Ellis, and managers Tatum Taphorn and Keenan Coffinberry).
Career varsity wins=469
2 TMSAA AA STATE TOURNAMENT APPREARANCES-2023(first state tournament for middle school) & 2024
1 FINAL 4 TMSAA AA STATE TOURNEY
1 CLASS AA SECTION 6 CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
1 CLASS AA SECTION 3 RUNNER-UP
1 CLASS AA AREA 11 RUNNER-UP
14 varsity MIDDLE SCHOOL Conference tourney Championship titles (No conference 8 seasons 2013-2020)
9 varsity MIDDLE SCHOOL regular season conference Champions titles
16 Season tournament championship titles
2006 TEAM (21-3)
2010 TEAM (21-4)
2012 TEAM (24-2) HIGHEST WINNING PERCENTAGE 92.3%; 2 TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS TITLES
2013 TEAM (26-8)
2014 TEAM (24-5)
2015 TEAM (21-5)
2016 TEAM (32-3) 2 TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS TITLES IN A SEASON; 2nd MOST WINS
2021 TEAM (21-5)
2022 TEAM (30-8) 3 TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS TITLES IN A SEASON
2023 Team (28-11) TMSAA State Tournament Qualifier
2024 Team (33-6) MOST DMS WINS; TMSAA State Tournament Qualifier; TMSAA Final 4 finish
Coach Minnis' DMS varsity teams reached their 450th win on August 24, 2024, at the Mule Town Tournament against Battle Creek (team: Rebecca Dunnagan, Kylee Young, Desiray Daniel, Kenleigh Stevenson, Jodi Maddux, Briley Rollins, Jacie Lampley, Avery Greene, Claire Ellis, and managers Tatum Taphorn and Keenan Coffinberry).
Career varsity wins=469
2 TMSAA AA STATE TOURNAMENT APPREARANCES-2023(first state tournament for middle school) & 2024
1 FINAL 4 TMSAA AA STATE TOURNEY
1 CLASS AA SECTION 6 CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
1 CLASS AA SECTION 3 RUNNER-UP
1 CLASS AA AREA 11 RUNNER-UP
14 varsity MIDDLE SCHOOL Conference tourney Championship titles (No conference 8 seasons 2013-2020)
9 varsity MIDDLE SCHOOL regular season conference Champions titles
16 Season tournament championship titles
2006 TEAM (21-3)
2010 TEAM (21-4)
2012 TEAM (24-2) HIGHEST WINNING PERCENTAGE 92.3%; 2 TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS TITLES
2013 TEAM (26-8)
2014 TEAM (24-5)
2015 TEAM (21-5)
2016 TEAM (32-3) 2 TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS TITLES IN A SEASON; 2nd MOST WINS
2021 TEAM (21-5)
2022 TEAM (30-8) 3 TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS TITLES IN A SEASON
2023 Team (28-11) TMSAA State Tournament Qualifier
2024 Team (33-6) MOST DMS WINS; TMSAA State Tournament Qualifier; TMSAA Final 4 finish
Coach Minnis is also the co-founder, Director, and a Head Coach for Dynamite Volleyball Club since 2005. The program has offered many players in our community opportunities to play travel volleyball. In those 20 seasons, she has coached teams from 11U to 18U age divisions.
Some accomplishments of travel teams:
19 CLUB TOURNEY CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES
1 SRVA REGIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB CHAMPIONS
3 SRVA REGIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNERS-UP
17 CLUB TOURNEY RUNNERS-UP
Coach Minnis graduated from Belmont University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Education.
She has been married for 27 years to James Minnis. They have two children, Mallory and Cade.
Coach Heather Minnis at [email protected] or 615-604-5255 text.
Some accomplishments of travel teams:
19 CLUB TOURNEY CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES
1 SRVA REGIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB CHAMPIONS
3 SRVA REGIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNERS-UP
17 CLUB TOURNEY RUNNERS-UP
Coach Minnis graduated from Belmont University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Education.
She has been married for 27 years to James Minnis. They have two children, Mallory and Cade.
Coach Heather Minnis at [email protected] or 615-604-5255 text.
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Assistant Coaches
Mallory Minnis 2024 Alisha Tolley Baker 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 Jennifer Oliver 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Jacklyn Clements 2018 & 2019 Trista Garton 2015 & 2016 Greg Donegan 2013 & 2014 Barney Wells 2012 Bryan Alsobrooks 2012 Don Smith 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Crystal Dubach 1999, 2000, 2001 |
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HISTORY OF DMS VOLLEYBALL
1998 THE BEGINNING-7TH & 8TH GRADE GIRLS; first team; first match played at Sonic Invitational Tournament at Freedom Middle.
1999 Second season earned 3rd place for junior varsity and varsity at the Sonic Invitational Tournament at Freedom Middle
2000
The Mid Cumberland Athletic Conference for Volleyball was formed on April 25, 2000, for fall 2000. The schools participating were Cheatham(Michael Carter), William James(Gary Gibson), Harpeth(Kelly Ensminger), Dickson(Heather Minnis), Charlotte(Sherry Mangrum)
2003
Began using Rallly scoring in our middle school volleyball matches.
2011
DMS was voted out of the MCAC Conference in 2011. The other teams, except Sycamore, created the MTAC Conference which included William James, Charlotte, Waverly, Cheatham, Burns, Fairview, East Hickman, Hickman, Harpeth, & Waverly.
Our volleyball team then requested and was allowed to enter the Big South Conference in the Columbia area for 2011 & 2012. We were then voted out of that conference in 2012. Our volleyball program has been without a conference 2013-2020.
2011 & 2012
Big South Volleyball Conference. Champions 2011 and 2012. In 2012 we were voted out of the Big South Conference. teams Summertown, Whitthorne, EA Cox, Spring Hill.
2013-2020
No Conference
We would not enter another conference until 2021 when the MTAC conference left Cheatham, Burns, Harpeth, and Fairview.
2021
Invited, along with Sycamore, to form the Tri-County Conference with 6 teams: Dickson, Burns, Harpeth, Cheatham, Fairview, & Sycamore.
Our Lady Dragons won the Regular Season and Tournament for the inaugural season of the Tri-County Conference.
The Lady Dragons defeated Cheatham in the semi-finals (2-0) and Fairview in the Championship (2-0). The Lady Dragons finished regular season conference play 10-0.
2022
Tri-County Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champs
Defeated Sycamore in semi-finals(2-0) and Burns in the Championship (2-0). 9-1 in regular season conference play.
2023
Tri-County Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champs
Defeated Cheatham in semi-finals (2-0) and Harpeth in Championship (2-0). 10-0 regular season play.
FIRST TMSAA STATE TOURNAMENT FOR VOLLEYBALL. Runner up and Champions from sectional qualified for the TMSAA state tournament. DMS qualified by earning sectional runner-up.
2024
Tri-County Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champs
Defeated Sycamore in semi-finals (2-0) and Burns in Championship (2-1). 10-0 regular season conference play.
TMSAA Post season-Some areas and sections changed to have 8 Sections with champions from each section qualifying for the TMSAA state tournament. DMS won Section 6 to qualify.
***********
TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1998-present:
1998-First team
1999 Sonic Invitational hosted by Freedom Middle in Franklin- 3rd place JV and Varsity
2000-
Mid-Cumberland Athletic Conference 2000-2010-
MCAC Varsity CONFERENCE CHAMPION TITLES
CHAMPS 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, & 2010
MCAC CONFERENCE RUNNER-UP 2008
BIG SOUTH 2011-2012
Big South Conference VARSITY CONFERENCE CHAMPS TITLES
CHAMPIONS 2011 & 2012
NO CONFERENCE 2013-2020
TRI-COUNTY CONFERENCE 2021-PRESENT
TRI-COUNTY VARSITY CONFERENCE CHAMPS TITLES
REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
SONIC TOURNEY 1998-2009
Sonic Invitational Tourney Champs 2006 & 2008
Sonic Invitational Tourney Runner-up 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, & 2009
Sonic Invitational Tourney 3rd 1999 & 2004
MULE TOWN CLASSIC 2010-2016; 2018-2024
Mule Town Classic Champs 2010, 2011(defeated Siegel in semis & Heritage in finals), 2022, & 2024 (7-0) defeated Battle Creek in semis ( 2-0) and Freedom in Championship match (2-0)
2022 JV CHAMPS 6-0 & JV CHAMPS 2023 5-1
Mule Town Classic 3rd 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021 (3rd out of 24), & 2023
Mule Town Classic Silver Champs 2014 & 2020
CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY TOURNEY 2005-2017
Cumberland University Middle School CHAMPIONS 2006 & 2016
Cumberland University Middle School Runner-up 2005 & 2014
Cumberland University Middle School 3rd 2008, 2015 & 2017
Lebanon High School Blue Devil Bash Tourney Runner-Up 2013
Donelson Christian Academy Tourney CHAMPIONS 2018 & 2022
Silver Champions 2024
Tri-County Conference 2021-PRESENT
REGULAR SEASON Champions 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
TOURNAMENT Champions 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
TMSAA Large School Sectional (organized small school and large school by Coach Minnis) 2010-2022
(2010 first year for middle school volleyball sectional)
TMSAA SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, & 2017
TMSAA Sectional Runner-Up 2013 ,2014 , & 2022
TMSAA Sectional 3rd 2018, 2020, & 2021
2023
TMSAA BEGAN POSTSEASON PLAY FOR VOLLEYBALL-AREA, SECTIONAL, & STATE.
#1 seed for Area Tournament with record 20-4; Defeated Coopertown Middle (2-0) Area championship lost to Mt. Juliet (1-2); finished AREA 11 AA RUNNER-UP
#2 seed for Sectional Tournament; defeated Thurgood Marshall (2-0); lost to Station Camp (1-2); defeated TW Hunter (2-0); defeated Station Camp (2-0); defeated Mt. Juliet (2-0); lost sectional championship to Richview (1-2); finished SECTION 3 AA RUNNER-UP
TMSAA AA STATE QUALIFIER (28-11)
2024
Area play defeated Greenbrier 2-0
Sectional Tournament defeated Montgomery Central 2-0; defeated Thurgood Marshall 2-0; defeated Richview 2-0; Defeated Montgomery Central 2-1 in Championship match; finished Champion of AA Section 6.
TMSAA AA STATE QUALIFIER-Pool play to determine the final four. Defeated Houston 2-1; defeated Signal Mountain 2-1; lost to Brentwood 1-2. Earned #2 seed and qualified for final four including Brentwood, Dickson, Sullivan East, and Liberty Creek.
TMSAA AA STATE FINAL 4-lost to Liberty Creek 0-2. Lost to Sullivan East 1-2.
RECORD 33-6
HISTORY OF DMS VOLLEYBALL
1998 THE BEGINNING-7TH & 8TH GRADE GIRLS; first team; first match played at Sonic Invitational Tournament at Freedom Middle.
1999 Second season earned 3rd place for junior varsity and varsity at the Sonic Invitational Tournament at Freedom Middle
2000
The Mid Cumberland Athletic Conference for Volleyball was formed on April 25, 2000, for fall 2000. The schools participating were Cheatham(Michael Carter), William James(Gary Gibson), Harpeth(Kelly Ensminger), Dickson(Heather Minnis), Charlotte(Sherry Mangrum)
2003
Began using Rallly scoring in our middle school volleyball matches.
2011
DMS was voted out of the MCAC Conference in 2011. The other teams, except Sycamore, created the MTAC Conference which included William James, Charlotte, Waverly, Cheatham, Burns, Fairview, East Hickman, Hickman, Harpeth, & Waverly.
Our volleyball team then requested and was allowed to enter the Big South Conference in the Columbia area for 2011 & 2012. We were then voted out of that conference in 2012. Our volleyball program has been without a conference 2013-2020.
2011 & 2012
Big South Volleyball Conference. Champions 2011 and 2012. In 2012 we were voted out of the Big South Conference. teams Summertown, Whitthorne, EA Cox, Spring Hill.
2013-2020
No Conference
We would not enter another conference until 2021 when the MTAC conference left Cheatham, Burns, Harpeth, and Fairview.
2021
Invited, along with Sycamore, to form the Tri-County Conference with 6 teams: Dickson, Burns, Harpeth, Cheatham, Fairview, & Sycamore.
Our Lady Dragons won the Regular Season and Tournament for the inaugural season of the Tri-County Conference.
The Lady Dragons defeated Cheatham in the semi-finals (2-0) and Fairview in the Championship (2-0). The Lady Dragons finished regular season conference play 10-0.
2022
Tri-County Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champs
Defeated Sycamore in semi-finals(2-0) and Burns in the Championship (2-0). 9-1 in regular season conference play.
2023
Tri-County Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champs
Defeated Cheatham in semi-finals (2-0) and Harpeth in Championship (2-0). 10-0 regular season play.
FIRST TMSAA STATE TOURNAMENT FOR VOLLEYBALL. Runner up and Champions from sectional qualified for the TMSAA state tournament. DMS qualified by earning sectional runner-up.
2024
Tri-County Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champs
Defeated Sycamore in semi-finals (2-0) and Burns in Championship (2-1). 10-0 regular season conference play.
TMSAA Post season-Some areas and sections changed to have 8 Sections with champions from each section qualifying for the TMSAA state tournament. DMS won Section 6 to qualify.
***********
TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1998-present:
1998-First team
1999 Sonic Invitational hosted by Freedom Middle in Franklin- 3rd place JV and Varsity
2000-
Mid-Cumberland Athletic Conference 2000-2010-
MCAC Varsity CONFERENCE CHAMPION TITLES
CHAMPS 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, & 2010
MCAC CONFERENCE RUNNER-UP 2008
BIG SOUTH 2011-2012
Big South Conference VARSITY CONFERENCE CHAMPS TITLES
CHAMPIONS 2011 & 2012
NO CONFERENCE 2013-2020
TRI-COUNTY CONFERENCE 2021-PRESENT
TRI-COUNTY VARSITY CONFERENCE CHAMPS TITLES
REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
SONIC TOURNEY 1998-2009
Sonic Invitational Tourney Champs 2006 & 2008
Sonic Invitational Tourney Runner-up 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, & 2009
Sonic Invitational Tourney 3rd 1999 & 2004
MULE TOWN CLASSIC 2010-2016; 2018-2024
Mule Town Classic Champs 2010, 2011(defeated Siegel in semis & Heritage in finals), 2022, & 2024 (7-0) defeated Battle Creek in semis ( 2-0) and Freedom in Championship match (2-0)
2022 JV CHAMPS 6-0 & JV CHAMPS 2023 5-1
Mule Town Classic 3rd 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021 (3rd out of 24), & 2023
Mule Town Classic Silver Champs 2014 & 2020
CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY TOURNEY 2005-2017
Cumberland University Middle School CHAMPIONS 2006 & 2016
Cumberland University Middle School Runner-up 2005 & 2014
Cumberland University Middle School 3rd 2008, 2015 & 2017
Lebanon High School Blue Devil Bash Tourney Runner-Up 2013
Donelson Christian Academy Tourney CHAMPIONS 2018 & 2022
Silver Champions 2024
Tri-County Conference 2021-PRESENT
REGULAR SEASON Champions 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
TOURNAMENT Champions 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
TMSAA Large School Sectional (organized small school and large school by Coach Minnis) 2010-2022
(2010 first year for middle school volleyball sectional)
TMSAA SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, & 2017
TMSAA Sectional Runner-Up 2013 ,2014 , & 2022
TMSAA Sectional 3rd 2018, 2020, & 2021
2023
TMSAA BEGAN POSTSEASON PLAY FOR VOLLEYBALL-AREA, SECTIONAL, & STATE.
#1 seed for Area Tournament with record 20-4; Defeated Coopertown Middle (2-0) Area championship lost to Mt. Juliet (1-2); finished AREA 11 AA RUNNER-UP
#2 seed for Sectional Tournament; defeated Thurgood Marshall (2-0); lost to Station Camp (1-2); defeated TW Hunter (2-0); defeated Station Camp (2-0); defeated Mt. Juliet (2-0); lost sectional championship to Richview (1-2); finished SECTION 3 AA RUNNER-UP
TMSAA AA STATE QUALIFIER (28-11)
2024
Area play defeated Greenbrier 2-0
Sectional Tournament defeated Montgomery Central 2-0; defeated Thurgood Marshall 2-0; defeated Richview 2-0; Defeated Montgomery Central 2-1 in Championship match; finished Champion of AA Section 6.
TMSAA AA STATE QUALIFIER-Pool play to determine the final four. Defeated Houston 2-1; defeated Signal Mountain 2-1; lost to Brentwood 1-2. Earned #2 seed and qualified for final four including Brentwood, Dickson, Sullivan East, and Liberty Creek.
TMSAA AA STATE FINAL 4-lost to Liberty Creek 0-2. Lost to Sullivan East 1-2.
RECORD 33-6
