The UHA Lady Blazers made it back to back 8th District volleyball titles, and three in the last four years Thursday night. The Lady Blazers picked up their latest title in a hard fought three set sweep over the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers.
The opening moments of the match gave indication of what kind of night it would be. After being tied at 1, 2, and 3, UHA was able to inch out to an 8-4 lead. Hopkinsville battled back, outscoring UHA 6-1 to take a 10-9 lead of their own. The Lady Blazers were able to gain control of the set with an 8-1 run to go up 17-11.
Still, the Lady Tigers would not go quietly, and got back as close as 21-18, before UHA was able to close out the set 25-20 and take a 1-0 lead in the match. Meghan Adams, Evelyn Morales, and Clarissa Miller, all had three kills in the set. Beth Peebles had four assists, while Miller added three more of her own. Hoptown was led in the set by Marley Hancock with three kills and Savannah Peck with four assists.
The second set saw more of the same hard fought competition. Early on the set was tied at 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. The Lady Blazers then worked their way out to a 14-10 lead and appeared to be on the verge of pulling away. Hopkinsville again battled their way back into the set, drawing within one at 19-18. With UHA leading 20-19, but Hopkinsville keeping the pressure on, there came a turning point in the momentum of the set.
UHA attempted to go for the point, however the ball did not clear the tape and was spinning down the right side of the net. Hopkinsville’s Hope Pace had been in the air prepared to make a block attempt on the shot, and when she landed she fall across the mid-line, giving the point to the Lady Blazers, and extending the UHA lead to 21-19. The Lady Blazers were then able to take advantage of a Hoptown service error and a double tap call to close the set out 25-22 and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Beth Peebles was huge in the set for the Lady Blazers with 11 assists. Evelyn Morales finished the set with five kills. Hoptown was paced by Savannah Peck with seven assists, while Alyssa Bearns and Hope Pace each had three kills.
The 3rd set began as if there would be a big swing in momentum. The Lady Tigers opened the set hot and jumped out to an 8-3 lead. UHA came storming back, outscoring Hopkinsville 8-1 to take an 11-9 lead. The lead would grow to 14-10, but back came the Lady Tigers. Hoptown used a 6-2 spurt to even things up at 16-16.
Typical with a championship team, the Lady Blazers fired right back, effectively sealing the set and the district championship with a 6-0 run to go up 22-16. UHA then closed out the sweep by winning the set 25-19.
Beth Peebles again was huge for UHA, adding 10 assists in the set, giving her 25 for the match. Savannah Peck continued her big performance for Hopkinsville, adding seven assists, giving her a total of 18 for the night.
Evelyn Morales and Meghan Adams had nine kills each for UHA, while Clarissa Miller had eight. Hopkinsville’s attack was paced by Marley Hancock and Alyssa Bearns with seven kills each. Hope Pace added six.
UHA improved their record to 28-5 with the win. The 28 wins now becomes the new program record for wins, just two nights after the Lady Blazers set the record at 27.
Hopkinsville falls to 12-14.
Both teams head off to the 2nd Region tournament, which will be played next week at Madisonville-North Hopkins.
