For Meghan Adams, there is no better feeling in the world than watching a kill slam to the ground on the other side of the volleyball net. Thursday night, the University Heights Academy senior outside hitter racked up a team-high 14 of them and helped the Blazers to a bounce-back victory against host Christian County at Lyle Dunbar Gymnasium.
The 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-14) sweep of the Colonels — coming in the 8th District opener for both squads — gave Heights an important bounce-back win, which came less than 24 hours after the Blazers fell to Caldwell County in the All “A” Classic 2nd Region Championship.
UHA, which only trailed once through Thursday’s affair (a 4-3 deficit in the third and decisive set) got off to a 6-3 start, thanks to a trio of kills from Adams during the Blazers’ first six points.
Adams, who also racked up a co-team-high 16 digs, teamed up with Evelyn Morales, Katie Beth Stevens and Clarissa Miller — a hitting corp that proved more than effective at the net for University Heights during the triumph.
Morales, who had a potent eight kills and seven digs, used one of her two blocks to end the first set 25-16. She then successfully served the first five points of the second set, and seemed to have the Blazers cruising to a seamless win.
The Colonels didn’t back down, however, and fought back behind the play of eighth-grade libero Rylee Owens and senior hitter Macy Baker. CCHS nearly erased a seven-point deficit and pulled within 19-18 on a Lanie Bivins tip, but could get no closer.
In the final set, Adams struck again to set the tone, emphatically landing a kill to give University Heights another set-opening advantage. The Cols did manage to take their first lead of the match on a Baker kill, but the Blazers would answer with a 13-2 run to separate and run away with the sweep.
UHA senior libero Lily Hendricks, who also had 16 digs, ended the match with a service ace. Setter Beth Peebles also played a significant role for the Blazers, accumulating 30 assists.
The Blazers (8-2) have the weekend off, but return to action at 7:30 p.m. Monday at home against Fort Campbel — the second of four straight showdowns with district opponents.
Christian County (4-5), which was led in defeat Thursday by a combined 26 kills from Baker (20) and Lindsie Oden (6), will co-host wRECk at the Plex — an 11-team tournament with programs from around western Kentucky — Friday and Saturday at Planters Bank-Jennie Stuart Health Sportsplex Hopkinsville. Matches begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
—- Chris Jung
UHA (8-2) 25 25 25 — 3
CCHS (4-5) 16 19 14 — 0
STAT LEADERS
UHA: Meghan Adams (16 digs, 14 kills, 2 aces)
UHA: Evelyn Morales (8 kills, 7 digs, block)
UHA: Beth Peebles (30 assists, 2 aces)
UHA: Lily Hendricks (16 digs, 2 aces)
CCHS: Macy Baker (20 kills)
CCHS: Lindsie Oden (6 kills)
CCHS: Alyvia Stokes (5 aces)
CCHS: Rylee Owens (4 aces, kill)