2024 IS OUR 27TH YEAR OF VOLLEYBALL AT DMS.
2022 marked 25 years of volleyball in Dickson County (Coach Minnis & Mr. Chandler pictured to left)
2024 marks Coach Heather Minnis' 27th (1998-present) season 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).
Coach Minnis' DMS teams have accumulated over 430 varsity wins.
Some of her teams' accomplishments include:
TMSAA STATE QUALIFIER in the first state tournament for middle school volleyball in 2023
13 varsity MIDDLE SCHOOL Conference tourney Championship titles (No conference 8 seasons 2013-2020)
8 varsity MIDDLE SCHOOL regular season conference Champions titles
14 regular season tournament championship titles
2006 TEAM (21-3)
2010 TEAM (21-4)
2012 TEAM (24-2) HIGHEST WINNING PERCENTAGE 92.3%; 2 tourney wins in a season
2013 TEAM (26-8)
2014 TEAM (24-5)
2015 TEAM (21-5)
2016 TEAM (32-3) MOST WINS IN A SEASON; 2 tourney wins in a season
2021 TEAM (21-5)
2022 TEAM (30-8) MOST TOURNAMENT WINS IN A SEASON WITH 3 CHAMPIONS TITLES
2023 Team (28-11) MOST MATCHES PLAYED IN A SEASON (39 total)
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 19 seasons, she has coached teams from 11U to 18U age divisions.
Some accomplishments of travel teams:
17 CLUB TOURNEY CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES
1 SRVA REGIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB CHAMPIONS
3 SRVA REGIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNERS-UP
13 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 26 years to James Minnis. They have two children, Mallory and Cade.
Coach Heather Minnis at [email protected] or 615-604-5255 text.
2022 marked 25 years of volleyball in Dickson County (Coach Minnis & Mr. Chandler pictured to left)
2024 marks Coach Heather Minnis' 27th (1998-present) season 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).
Coach Minnis' DMS teams have accumulated over 430 varsity wins.
Some of her teams' accomplishments include:
TMSAA STATE QUALIFIER in the first state tournament for middle school volleyball in 2023
13 varsity MIDDLE SCHOOL Conference tourney Championship titles (No conference 8 seasons 2013-2020)
8 varsity MIDDLE SCHOOL regular season conference Champions titles
14 regular season tournament championship titles
2006 TEAM (21-3)
2010 TEAM (21-4)
2012 TEAM (24-2) HIGHEST WINNING PERCENTAGE 92.3%; 2 tourney wins in a season
2013 TEAM (26-8)
2014 TEAM (24-5)
2015 TEAM (21-5)
2016 TEAM (32-3) MOST WINS IN A SEASON; 2 tourney wins in a season
2021 TEAM (21-5)
2022 TEAM (30-8) MOST TOURNAMENT WINS IN A SEASON WITH 3 CHAMPIONS TITLES
2023 Team (28-11) MOST MATCHES PLAYED IN A SEASON (39 total)
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 19 seasons, she has coached teams from 11U to 18U age divisions.
Some accomplishments of travel teams:
17 CLUB TOURNEY CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES
1 SRVA REGIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB CHAMPIONS
3 SRVA REGIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNERS-UP
13 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 26 years to James Minnis. They have two children, Mallory and Cade.
Coach Heather Minnis at [email protected] or 615-604-5255 text.
Assistant Coaches
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
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
HISTORY OF DMS VOLLEYBALL
1998 THE BEGINNING-7TH & 8TH GRADE GIRLS; first team
1999
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 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.
***********
TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1998-present:
1999 Sonic Invitational hosted by Freedom Middle in Franklin- 3rd place JV and Varsity
2000-
MCAC 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
CHAMPIONS 2021, 2022, 2023
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; 2018-2023
Mule Town Classic Champs 2010, 2011(defeated Siegel in semis & Heritage in finals), & 2022
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
Tri-County Conference 2021-PRESENT
REGULAR SEASON Champions 2021, 2022, 2023
TOURNAMENT Champions 2021, 2022, 2023
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
HISTORY OF DMS VOLLEYBALL
1998 THE BEGINNING-7TH & 8TH GRADE GIRLS; first team
1999
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 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.
***********
TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1998-present:
1999 Sonic Invitational hosted by Freedom Middle in Franklin- 3rd place JV and Varsity
2000-
MCAC 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
CHAMPIONS 2021, 2022, 2023
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; 2018-2023
Mule Town Classic Champs 2010, 2011(defeated Siegel in semis & Heritage in finals), & 2022
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
Tri-County Conference 2021-PRESENT
REGULAR SEASON Champions 2021, 2022, 2023
TOURNAMENT Champions 2021, 2022, 2023
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