Lady Blazers Power to Sixth Straight 8th District Championship

A dominant run through the regular season continued through the first round of the postseason for the University Heights Academy Lady Blazers Thursday night. After losing only one set to a 2nd Region opponent during the regular season, the Lady Blazers completed a perfect run through the 8th District tournament with a straight-set win over Christian County.

The win gave the Lady Blazers their 6th straight district championship heading into next week’s 2nd Region tournament at Caldwell County High School. With the six sets they won in two district tournament matches, University Heights is unbeaten against region competition with a set record of 52-1 with the only blemish coming in a four-set win against Crittenden County.

The Lady Blazers came out focused and looking to send an early message as UHA started the first set with a 7-1 lead. Six of those points came on emphatic kills from Julia Thomas, Suzie Tatum, and Chayse Gilliland. The Lady Colonels never really got their legs back under them in the opening set after that big start from UHA, as the Lady Blazers went on to take the set 25-10.

Julia Thomas and Chayse Gilliland have five kills each in the set. Suzie Tatum added three more. The only issue for the Lady Blazers, and it was one they would battle throughout the night, came at the service line as University Heights had five service errors in the set.

Camryn Armstrong and Skylar Kirby had a kill each for Christian County.

UHA opened the second set quickly, just like the first, jumping out to an early 6-1 lead. This time it was Julia Thomas and Olivia Oakley leading the way. But this time the Lady Colonels came punching their way back into the match. Getting solid play from Skylar Kirby, Kaidence Atwell, Anaysia Bagwell, and Rylee Owens, Christian County got as close as one point at 14-13.

But as teams that want to be championship teams do, the Lady Blazers responded as the Lady Colonels made a threatening move toward the lead. Julia Thomas got wound up over the final half of the set and got help from Claire Chewning and Olivia Oakley as UHA outscored Christian County 11-4 over the rest of the set to take a 25-17 win and go up two sets to none.

Another big set for Julia Thomas, who had six kills. Chayse Gilliland and Olivia Oakley added three each. Service issues continued to plague the Lady Blazers in the second as they had six more in the set.

Skylar Kirby finished with two kills for the Lady Colonels and got help from Rylee Owens and Camryn Armstrong.

The third set saw Christian County take its first, and only lead of the night, as the Lady Colonels got out to an early 3-2 lead. Sadly for Christian County, it did not last long. Julia Thomas’ play at the net sparked a 6-0 run for the Lady Blazers that turned the deficit into an 8-3 lead and they would not trail again.

The Lady Colonels, led by Anaysia Bagwell, Skylar Kirby, and Rylee Owens, fought hard to stay in the match and get back to the front, but it was not meant to be. With the lead at 15-11, the Lady Blazers dropped the hammer one final time. A 9-0 run, with eight of the points scored on a Claire Chewning service run, was the final nail as the Lady Blazers would close out the set and the match with a 25-15 win.

Julia Thomas added five more kills to bring her match total to 16. Chayse Gilliland had three more, giving her 11 for the night. Claire Chewning had two kills and two aces over the final set. While not racking up the kill numbers, UHA’s Sarah Peebles continued to show why she is arguably the best setter in the region, giving her attackers perfect set after perfect set.

Anaysia Bagwell had two kills and a block in the third for Christian County. Rylee Owens finished with an all-around big match for the Lady Colonels, who will now also look towards the region tournament.

UHA improves to 33-2 with the win, while Christian County drops to 19-11. Both head to next week’s regional at Caldwell County. The regional tournament draw is set for Friday morning.