The Franklin-Simpson Lady Wildcats ended an eleven-match losing streak to the Todd County Central Lady Rebels Tuesday night in Elkton. Franklin-Simpson took an early two-set lead and then turned back a Todd County Central rally to down the Lady Rebels in four sets.
The win for the Lady Wildcats was the first since August 20, 2019, when Franklin-Simpson took a three set to two win.
The Lady Rebels opened the night strong, jumping out to a 9-3 lead in the first set. But Franklin-Simpson battled back, scoring eight straight points to take an 11-9 lead. The Lady Wildcats would move on out to an 18-14 lead before Todd Central made their run in the set, scoring five in a row to go up 19-18. The rest of the set was back and forth before Franklin-Simpson scored the final two points of the set, the last coming on a Lady Rebel service error, giving the Lady Wildcats a 25-23 win and a one set to none lead in the match.
The second set was a tight battle early but like the bottom fell out with the rain outside, the bottom fell out for Todd County Central. With the score tied 8 to 8, Franklin-Simpson scored 11 straight points to take a 19-8 lead. That was enough to carry the Lady Wildcats to a 25-15 win and a two set to none lead in the match.
Just as it appeared the Lady Rebels were on the verge of getting swept in their own gym, they started to fight back.
With Lynnlee Jones leading the way, Todd County Central jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the third set. Franklin-Simpson never recovered from the Lady Rebels’ start and got no closer than three points for the rest of the set. Jones controlled play at the net for Todd Central as the Lady Wildcats had no way to answer her. The Lady Rebels went on to take the set 25-16 to cut the match lead to two sets to one.
That momentum carried over into the beginning of the fourth set. Getting some huge moments from Callie Chapman and Alyssa Wofford, Todd County Central jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead. The Lady Rebels continued to hold the lead until late in the set. Trailing 19-14, the Lady Wildcats made their move. Getting big plays from Annsleigh Bonner and Mackenzie Phelps, the Lady Wildcats scored 11 of the final 15 points in the set to come back and pull out a 25-23 win and close out the match three sets to one. In addition to Bonner and Phelps, Franklin-Simpson got big moments from Caydence Johnson and Marianna Ortiz.
For Todd County Central, Lynnlee Jones and Callie Chapman led the attack at the net with nine kills each. Alyssa Wofford added eight more. Chloe Willis finished with 17 assists. Shelby Holderman chipped in with 9 assists.
The loss, which was their fifth in a row, drops the Lady Rebels to 4-6 for the season. They travel to University Heights Thursday night.
