After dropping both contests with Fort Campbell a year ago to end a 13-game winning run in the series, the Hopkinsville volleyball team restored order with a 3-0 victory over the Lady Falcons on Tuesday at Tiger Gym.
The Lady Tigers were in control throughout, evening their 8th-District record at 1-1 with their first win of the season. The Lady Falcons slipped to 1-2, 0-1 in district play.
Hopkinsville raced out to a 19-4 advantage in the first set after a pair of aces by Ajayla Shiraef and took the opener 25-12.
It was more of the same in the second as the Lady Tigers built an 11-point cushion after another ace by Shiraef made it 16-5. Fort Campbell rallied to within six points at 20-14, but Hoptown closed out a 25-17 victory on a kill by Shiraef.
A better start for the Lady Falcons gave them an early lead in the final set before Hopkinsville tied it at 7-7. From there, the Lady Tigers reeled off a 7-0 run before Fort Campbell answered with a 5-1 spurt capped by an Emma Haynes ace to cut it to 15-12.
Amanda Kalili-Liusa’s fifth ace of the night pulled the Lady Falcons to within three points and forced a Hoptown timeout at 22-19. But the Lady Tigers wouldn’t be denied, closing out the contest with a pair of service points by Shiraef for a five-point win.
Kayla Maslonka finished with four aces and three digs for the Lady Falcons, and Elinor Arnold had four kills and four blocks.
Shiraef notched five kills, six kills, and four digs for the Lady Tigers, and Kendra McMickens served up three aces. Brooke Stewart added four digs and a pair of aces, and Amy Toms finished with six blocks.
Both teams have big district matches coming up, with Fort Campbell hosting University Heights Academy on Wednesday and the Lady Tigers hosting Christian County on Thursday.
