When Heritage Christian Academy began the discussion of moving from the Kentucky Christian Athletic Association to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association a few years back, they knew transition could be lumpy in some sports. They also knew they were ready to hit the ground running in others.
Volleyball is one of their programs where they were ready to compete with KHSAA schools immediately.
Another reason for the move was that it made them eligible for the All A Classic and the Kentucky Christian Athletic Conference. The latter is a statewide association made up of small Christian KHSAA schools.
Last year, Heritage lost both games it played at the KCAC State Tournament. Saturday, they brought home the state championship trophy. Volleyball joins boys’ basketball as HCA programs to win KCAC state titles.
HCA beat Christian Fellowship of the First Region 22-25, 25-20, 15-8 Saturday at the Bluegrass SportsPlex in Elizabethtown.
Elle Heltsley had 15 kills in the championship match with Bailey Craft chipping in with 13 assists. Mya Goodwin had four kills, three aces, and nine assists. She also kept points alive with 20 digs. Cora Hale added 10 digs.
HCA had six aces in the match, an attack success rate of 89-percent, and just four serve-receive errors.
HCA has won four of the five meetings with CFS since transitioning to the KHSAA last year.
The Lady Warriors advanced to the championship match with a 25-27, 25-22, 15-12 win over North Hardin Classical in the semifinals. HCA has three wins this season where they dropped the first set.
Heltsley and Goodwin each had 10 kills, Craft had 12 assists and five aces, and Macy Lake added seven digs and two aces.
HCA served up 10 aces, had an attack success rate of 85-percent, but 16 serve-receive errors with most of those in the first set.
HCA opened the tournament with a 25-14, 25-12 win over Foundation Christian Academy of Bowling Green.
Katie Cansler had three kills and three aces, and Goodwin added seven kills and four assists.
Goodwin, Craft, and Heltsley were named to the KCAC All-Tournament Team with Craft named the MVP.
Heritage Christian Academy improved to 17-3, including a 9-2 record against KHSAA schools. Since the start of last year, HCA has a 16-7 record against KHSAA teams.
HCA returns to KCAA play Monday when they host Grace Christian of Owensboro.
STATS FOR ALL THREE KCAC TOURNAMENT WINS
Bailey Craft – 33 assists, 10 aces, 24 digs, 2 kills
Elle Heltsley – 31 kills, 3 assists, 3 aces, 25 digs, 6 blocks
Mya Goodwin – 21 kills, 20 assists, 5 aces, 31 digs
Cora Hale – 5 kills, 2 assists, 22 digs
Katie Cansler – 8 kills, 2 assists, 2 aces, 13 digs, 2 block
Macy Lake – 5 aces, 14 digs
Hadlee Hayes – 3 digs
