The University Heights Academy Lady Blazers look ready to go to Richmond in three weeks and make some noise at the All A Classic state volleyball tournament. The Lady Blazers earned their second straight trip to the state tournament by rolling through the semifinals and finals of the 2nd Region All A Classic Saturday at Fort Campbell.
UHA won over Crittenden County in straight sets in the semifinal round and then got another sweep over Livingston Central in the championship match.
In the semifinals against the Lady Rockets, the opening set was back-and-forth until about the midway point of the set. The Lady Blazers then found their footing and got solid effort from Suzie Comperry, Claire Chewning, Sarah Peebles, Julia Thomas, and Chayse Gilliland as they got some breathing room and went on to claim the set 25-16.
The second set was a battle throughout. The Lady Blazers appeared to have gained control as they took a late 20-15 lead behind a run led by Olivia Oakley and Suzie Comperry. But then a service error opened the door and the Lady Rockets walked through it.
An 8-2 run put Crittenden County up 23-22 and it appeared a third and deciding set was a strong possibility. But service errors can be momentum killers, and this time it was the Lady Rockets who had one at a very bad time. That error tied the set at 23-23. Sarah Peebles then served an ace for the Lady Blazers, who finished off the match by winning the next point.
Chayse Gilliland led the UHA attack with 5 kills. Julia Thomas added four. Sarah Peebles had 14 assists for the Lady Blazers.
The win moved the Lady Blazers into the championship match where they would face the Livingston Central Lady Cardinals, who had advanced with a straight-set win over Heritage Christian.
The championship match was all UHA from the beginning. With the first set tied at 4-4, the Lady Blazers scored five straight points to go up 9-4. The run was keyed by the play of Eveyln Cotthoff, Suzie Comperry, Julia Thomas, and Claire Chewning. The rest of the set was highlighted by three thunderous kills from Chayse Gilliland as the Lady Blazers took the set 25-10.
Thomas and Gilliland got the Lady Blazers rolling in the second set as UHA jumped out to a 5-1 lead. Thomas would then help the Lady Blazers slam the door at the end of the set as UHA closed out the match and the championship with a 25-15 win.
Julia Thomas was dominant at the net for University Heights, finishing the match with seven kills. Sarah Peebles added 17 assists. Evelyn Cottoff served up seven aces in the match.
UHA now advances to the All A Classic state volleyball tournament in Richmond, which will begin September 15.
