University Heights Academy Head Volleyball Coach Faye Hendricks begins her 5th season with the Lady Blazers, after a strong 2016 season yielded an overall record of 28-10. UHA went 18-6 within the 2nd Region and 9-1 in the district, with the only district blemish being an early season 1-3 loss to Christian County.
The Lady Blazers avenged that loss with a 3-0 win in the 8th District championship match, also getting some revenge for a loss to the Lady Colonels in the 2015 district final. UHA’s season ended for the second year in a row in the 2nd Region semifinals, with a 1-3 loss to the Caldwell County Lady Tigers. Earlier in the season, Caldwell also put an end to the Lady Blazers All “A” tournament, beating them 2-0 in the regional championship.
In 2017, Hendricks’ Lady Blazers will look to replace five players lost to graduation, opening the door for younger players to step up. Sophomore Lily Hendricks is the most experienced starter returning for the Lady Blazers and will look to set the table for some height at the net. Anna Moore, Aisha Pantiere and Katie Beth Stevens provide some punch at the net along with Naliscya Hall, the lone senior on the squad.
UHA opens the season August 15th at Hopkins County Central, after beating the Lady Storm 3-0 in the first match in 2016. All “A” competition will begin August 22nd against Crittenden County. The Lady Blazers beat the Lady Rockets 3-0 in Hopkinsville last season.
Coach Hendricks will once again take her team to a trio of in-season tournaments in 2017. UHA will play September 29-30 in the Quad State at the Sports Plex in Paducah, after going 3-3 in the tournament last season. They will also travel to Henderson for the Jerry Mezur Spikefest on October 6-7, where they went 1-2 in 2016. Finally, the Lady Blazers will play in the Smackdown tournament hosted by Hopkinsville High School and Christian County High School, looking for another strong showing after going 3-2 last year.
