The Hopkinsville Lady Tigers very nearly had the Madisonville Lady Maroons Tuesday night. The Lady Tigers won the first two sets of the match at Tiger Gym in tight hard fought battles that came down to the final points. With their backs against the wall, Madisonville rallied to win the next three sets to take the match 3-2 on Senior Night at Hopkinsville High School.
The first set of the night was close from beginning to end with neither team able to pull out to a significant lead. With Hopkinsville trailing 25-24, the Lady Tigers scored the next three points to take the set 27-25.
The second set was more of the same as the two teams went toe-to-toe throughout the set. Each team had one five point run during the set, otherwise points were scored one or two at a time for the duration of the set. In fact, with the second set tied at 26, it was a two point spurt for Hopkinsville that closed the set 28-26.
Hopkinsville appeared about ready to close out the match in the third set as the Lady Tigers jumped out to a 6-2 lead. Then the match turned, trailing 9-5, Madisonville ripped off 8 points in a row to go up 13-9. Hopkinsville managed to battle back to tie it at 13-13, but the Lady Maroons then immediately scored 9 of the next 10 points to take a 22-14 lead. Madisonville held off a late Hoptown rally to take the set 25-22.
In the 4th set, Madisonville jumped out to a 6-2 lead and then cruised the rest of the way. The Lady Maroons would win the set 25-13 to even the match at two sets each.
The 5th and deciding set was much like the first three, a battle that came down to the final points. Hopkinsville appeared to be in pretty good shape, leading the set at 13-11, only two points away from taking the match. But, the Lady Maroons then scored four points in a row to take the set 15-13, and the match 3-2.
The loss for Hopkinsville, which has played much better over the past couple of weeks, drops their record to 6-19. Madisonville improves to 19-12.
Hopkinsville will close out the regular season this weekend at the Toyota of Hopkinsville Western Kentucky Smack Down.