A pair of tough losses for the University Heights Academy Lady Blazers on the opening day of play at the All A Classic state volleyball tournament in Richmond Friday. The Lady Blazers dropped matches to Bethlehem and Kentucky Country Day in the first two matches of pool play.
In the match with Bethlehem, the Lady Blazers stood toe-to-toe with the Banshees in the opening set. Led by strong play from Julia Thomas, Olivia Oakley, and Claire Chewning, UHA was tied with Bethlehem at 16-16. But then the wheels came off for the Lady Blazers. The Banshees scored the final nine points of the set to take the opener 25-16 and go up 1-0 in the match.
Brilee Mitchell and Torie Sparks were big in the opening set for the Banshees.
The momentum from the finish of the opening set carried over into the second set for Bethlehem. The Banshees, led by Torie Sparks, jumped out to a 13-5 lead and never looked back. Bethlehem would take the second set 25-15 to close out the match two sets to none.
The second match of pool play against Kentucky Country Day is a bit of a different story. This is the match that the Lady Blazers will look back at and wonder just what happened.
With great starts from Suzie Comperry and Olivia Oakley, UHA took a 13-8 lead in the opening set and look to have the momentum flowing in their direction. The Lady Blazers carried the lead throughout the second half of the set and looked to be ready to put it away as they led 24-17. But KCD scored eight straight to take a 25-24 lead and would ultimately win the set 27-25.
While not quite as dramatic a fashion, it happened again in the second set. With Claire Chewning, Olivia Oakley, and Julia Thomas firing on all cylinders, the Lady Blazers took a 12-6 lead over KCD and look to be steering the match towards a deciding third set.
However, KCD, led by Ryelle Rondo, daughter of former UK basketball star Rajon Rondo, who was working as a line judge in the match, went on an 11-1 run to go up 17-13. Rondo’s teammate Alexus King then took over and carried Kentucky Country Day to a 25-16 set win to close out a two to nothing match win.
Up next for the Lady Blazers is the final match of pool play against Somerset Christian Saturday morning. Then play will begin in both the championship and consolation brackets of the tournament.
