Christian County volleyball Coach Ashleigh Sympson begins her second season with the Lady Colonels coming off a 17-16 record in 2016. Sympson led the team to an 8-8 regional record and had a strong 7-3 run in district play. The Lady Colonels lost the 8th District championship match 0-3 to UHA after beating the Lady Blazers for the title in 2015, the last of eight district championships under former coach, Rick Erickson. For the second straight season, Christian County’s season ended at the hands of Henderson County, in the 2nd Region championship match in 2015 and the regional quarterfinals last year.
Jahnryi Gittens (middle), Taytum Lovelace (right side, MH), and Whitnie Thomas (setter, DS) graduated, leaving Coach Sympson with some holes to fill. Fortunately, seven of last season’s twelve dressing varsity players return, five of which are seniors. Kathryn Buchanan will start outside and serve as team captain. Buchanan was on the AVCA Phenom Watchlist and made the All Tournament team at the 2016 Elizabethtown Tournament and was also All 8th District. A couple of juniors, libero Elizabeth Gibbs and middle Ariyonna Johnson, who put up significant numbers for the Lady Colonels last season, will be counted on again. Another junior, Faitala Bussell, who Coach Sympson says is new to the game, figures to provide an impact in her first season. Overall, Sympson says she’s, “looking forward to seeing the growth and personal development of the girls, as well as the team.”
The Lady Colonels open the season at home against the Caldwell County Lady Tigers. On August 25-26 they will travel to the Bluegrass Tournament in Lexington and will also return to the Elizabethtown Tournament September 2nd. The Lady Colonels will wrap up the season October 14-15 hosting the Western Kentucky Smackdown in conjunction with Hopkinsville High School. They enjoyed a strong showing in the competition last season, posting a 4-1 record.