The old adage about everyone going back to 0-0 when the postseason starts held especially true for the Fort Campbell Lady Falcons Monday night in the opening round of the 8th District volleyball tournament at Heritage Christian. After a regular season that saw the Lady Falcons win just two matches, both over Trigg County, Fort Campbell upended the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers in straight sets (25-10, 25-18, 25-23) to advance to Tuesday night’s district semifinal round.
Coming into the match, the Lady Falcons had not won a set in district competition this year and had only won one set against a district foe, that coming against Hopkinsville in the wRECk at the Plex. Additionally, the win for Fort Campbell was their first in the 8th District tournament since the 2010 season, when they beat Hopkinsville two sets to none.
But the past was a distant memory for Fort Campbell on Monday, as this night belonged to the Lady Falcons from the very beginning.
Behind the play of Elinor Arnold, Fort Campbell scored the first six points of the opening set. Arnold had four kills out of the six points. Arnold got help from Denise Charles at the net and Amanda Kalili-Liusa on the serve as the Lady Falcons never let Hopkinsville into the set. Fort Campbell led by as many as 16 on their way to claiming the set 25-10 to go up one set to none.
Fort Campbell got off to another good start in the second set. Again led by the efforts of Arnold, the Lady Falcons jumped out to a 10-6 lead. This time, however, Hopkinsville came battling back. With Madysen Lawrence and Lynette Nolan leading the charge, the Lady Tigers scored five straight points to take their first lead of the night at 11-10.
The two teams went back and forth over the next few minutes. With Hopkinsville leading 14-13, Fort Campbell went on a 5-1 run to take a lead they would not give back for the remainder of the set. The Lady Falcons would then close out the set scoring the final five points to take a 25-18 win and go up two sets to none. Elinor Arnold had a pair of aces coming down the stretch while Amanda Kalili-Liusa and Olivia Voelkel finished off some big points for the Lady Falcons.
The third set would turn out to be one of the big runs. Fort Campbell appeared to be on the way to quickly closing out the match as the Lady Falcons ran out to a 13-6 lead, scoring five straight points to give themselves what felt like at the time a little breathing room. Then, with Amy Toms at the serve, the Lady Tigers roared right back into the set.
Hopkinsville scored eight straight points to take a 14-13 lead. In addition to a strong service run from Toms, Madysen Lawrence had three big kills during that stretch.
But this night, the Lady Falcons would not be denied. With Amanda Kalili-Liusa at the serve, Fort Campbell scored nine straight to take a 22-14 lead.
The Lady Tigers did not want to go quietly in what turned out to be the final set of the match. Madysen Lawrence got on a service run and pulled the Lady Tigers to within 23-20. After a score by the Lady Falcons set up match point, Hopkinsville made one final charge, getting to within 24-23, but the Lady Falcons found a way to get the final point of the set and close out the sweep.
Elinor Arnold had a huge night for Fort Campbell, finishing with 12 kills, 2 aces, and a block. Amanda Kalili-Liusa stepped up at the service line and finished the night with 8 aces. Denise Charles also came up with some timely plays for the Lady Falcons.
For Hopkinsville, despite an injury to her left hand, Madysen Lawrence had five kills and two aces. Amy Toms and Lynette Nolan also had big moments for the Lady Tigers.
Hopkinsville’s season comes to an end at 7-23.
Fort Campbell improves to 3-18 and advances to Tuesday night’s semifinals, where they will face a big challenge in the form of regional favorite University Heights, who enters the postseason at 31-2. That match is set for 7:30 pm at Heritage Christian.
