Heritage Christian Academy’s journey to the KCAA Super Regional championship Saturday was much easier than the actual journey to Oak Ridge Christian Academy, the tournament’s host.
Oak Ridge is nestled in the hills and hollows near the community of Casey, which is near Morgantown. And the small school was the host of the eight-team Super Regional consisting of schools in KCAA’s Region 1 and 2.
Heritage Christian didn’t drop a set in three matches and claimed its second consecutive Super Regional title on Saturday. The championship cemented HCA’s dominance in the region which began with 16 straight region titles through 2019 and a pair of Super Region titles since. HCA’s 2020 season ended in quarantine days before the Super Region.
The Lady Warriors opened with a quick 25-9, 25-5 win over Grace Christian Academy of Owensboro. Elle Heltsley was dominant with 14 kills and seven aces to account for nearly half of HCA’s scoring in the match. Macy Lake served up six aces, and Bailey Craft added eight assists and two kills. Mya Goodwin had seven assists, four digs, and two aces.
In the semifinals, HCA defeated Valor Christian Academy of Owensboro 25-7, 25-17. The Lady Warriors trailed only once in the match – 1-0 in the second set.
Up 9-6 in the first set, HCA took control with a 10-0 run. Katie Cansler served up three aces, and Heltsley had four kills during the run.
HCA scored nine straight points after falling behind 1-0 in the second set. Lake had four aces during the decisive run. Valor got as close as 13-7 but HCA held off the Tigers for the win.
Heltsley had 12 kills and Lake had five aces in the win.
The championship match featured the top two teams in the statewide KCAA Power Poll – HCA and Oak Ridge.
The Lady Warriors made a statement, opening with the match’s first eight points. Goodwin had four aces to help HCA get off to a strong start. Oak Ridge would get to within 13-8 but a 7-2 run by Heritage led to a 25-14 set win.
The second set featured four ties until HCA was able to put a little distance between them and Oak Ridge. Goodwin had a pair of kills as HCA stretched its lead to 15-8.
Oak Ridge drew to within five points but would get no closer as HCA took the second set 25-13.
Goodwin had five kills, five aces, six assists, and nine digs in the championship win. Heltsley added eight kills and Cansler had four kills.
Heltsley, Cansler, and Craft were named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Lady Warriors were coached by assistant coach Mallory Dawson with help from assistants Tori Sutton and Holly Morris. HCA Head Coach Grace Stewart gave birth to her first child on Thursday.
Heritage Christian Academy will take a 31-7 record into its final KCAA State Tournament next weekend in Nicholasville. They will likely claim the tournament’s top seed as they seek to bring home their second straight state title before making the full-time move to the KHSAA next year.
MATCH STATS
HCA over Grace Christian
Bailey Craft – 2 kills, 8 assists, 1 ace, 1 dig
Elle Heltsley – 14 kills, 7 aces, 3 digs
Macy Lake – 6 aces, 2 digs
Bralee Fowler – 1 ace
Mya Goodwin – 1 kill, 7 assists, 2 aces, 4 digs
Kailynn Stanley – 1 kill
Cora Hale – 1 assist, 1 ace, 2 digs
Katie Cansler – 2 kills, 2 aces, 1 dig
Macy Henderson – 1 assist
Hadlee Hayes – 1 dig
HCA over Valor Christian
Bailey Craft – 10 assists, 2 digs
Elle Heltsley – 12 kills, 2 aces, 2 digs
Macy Lake – 1 assist, 5 aces,
Rachael Hansen – 1 kill
Mya Goodwin – 3 kills, 4 assists, 1 ace, 1 dig
Kailynn Stanley – 1 ace
Katie Cansler – 3 aces, 3 digs, 1 block
Hadlee Hayes – 1 dig
HCA over Oak Ridge
Bailey Craft – 9 assists, 1 dig
Elle Heltsley – 8 kills, 2 aces, 4 digs
Mya Goodwin – 5 kills, 6 assists, 5 aces, 9 digs, 1 block
Kailynn Stanley – 1 dig
Cora Hale – 4 digs
Katie Cansler – 4 kills, 1 dig
