The Lady Blazers took a couple of big steps towards a chance at an All A state volleyball championship Friday night in Richmond as pool play got underway at this year’s All A Classic. The Lady Blazers picked up straight-set wins over Somerset Christian and Wolfe County to put themselves in line for the top seed in the pool.
The straight-set wins extend the Lady Blazers winning streaks to sixteen straight matches and 38 straight sets.
The Lady Blazers opened their even with a tough battle against Somerset Christian. UHA had to overcome a strong performance from Addison Cunnagin, who was more than a handful for the Lady Blazers at the net.
Somerset Christian held a small lead through the early going of the opening set. With the Lady Blazers trailing 9-6, Julia Thomas got things cranked up. UHA scored eight of the next nine points to take a 14-10 lead. Somerset Christian battled back to take a 22-21 lead, only to see UHA score the final four points of the set to win it 25-22. Sarah Peebles had a huge drop in shot that fell in the middle of the Somerset Christian lineup that ignited the final run. Julia Thomas had nine kills and two blocks in the set.
The second set went back and forth, and it appeared late as if Somerset Christian might force a third set. The Lady Cougars led 21-19 only to see the Lady Blazers score the final six points of the set to win 25-21 and close out the match win two sets to none. Chayse Gilliland, Olivia Oakley, Claire Chewning, and Sarah Peebles all had big moments in the second set. Oakley and Claire Chewning had four kills each for the Lady Blazers. Sarah Peebles came up with two huge plays as the Lady Blazers were making their move to close out the set.
The second match of the evening for the Lady Blazers found them taking on the Lady Wolves from Wolfe County. The match opened as if were going to be a long one for the Lady Blazers.
Wolfe County was quite adept at keeping the ball in play and allowing their opponent to make the mistakes. It was that style of play and some solid net play that put the Lady Wolves ahead early. Wolfe County would lead by as many as six points, at 12-6, and they appeared to have UHA on the ropes.
But Wolfe County had a problem that would end up costing them dearly. The Lady Wolves had seven service errors in the opening set and it was one of those that ignited a set changing run. With Wolfe County up 17-12, they committed one of those miscues. Then, with Chayse Gilliland at the serve, the Lady Blazers scored eight more points to complete a 9-0 run and turn the five point deficit into a four-point lead. Gilliland had four aces during the game-changing run. UHA went on to take the set 25-18.
Wolfe County got out to a quick 3-0 lead in the second set, but the momentum had already swung and the Lady Blazers were now in full gear. The Lady Blazers went on a 12-3 run to go up 12-6. And the Lady Wolves never threatened after that point. Service woes continued to plague Wolfe County as they committed four more service errors in the second set.
With Julia Thomas and Olivia Oakley dropping the hammer, the Lady Blazers closed out the set and the match with a 25-17 win.
University Heights is now 18-1 on the season and will finish out pool play with a match against Paintsville Saturday morning. Bracket play is set to start at 11am.
