Caldwell County’s volleyball match at Hopkins County Central Tuesday night was a marathon affair — and that was just the first set.
The Lady Storm captured a thrilling 34-32 victory in the opening set. But the Lady Tigers settled down and captured the next three sets 25-11, 25-10, 25-15.
It was Caldwell’s 26th straight win over Hopkins Central. The Lady Tigers hold a 52-1 advantage all-time.
“We couldn’t find the ocean in the first,” noted Caldwell head coach Daniel Cortner. “Had 23 hitting or serving errors, mostly because Central did a great job bringing the attack to us. They really held the momentum and played that same gritty defense that gave us fits in postseason last year.
“Made a little change and gave Maddie Cooper first serve the next three sets and it was a gamechanger. She really beat down their serve receive and gave us a lot of free-ball chances.
“We’re on about lineup option No. 15 so far, but we are starting to see where some pieces need to fall,” Cortner added. “All in all, glad to turn around mentally after the first set and get out with a big district win.”
Caldwell, now 5-4 overall and 1-0 in the district, got 17 kills, a block and a dig from Brylee Butts while Rylee Thompson had nine kills, seven digs and six aces. Kylee White recorded 37 assists along with three kills, six digs and an ace.
Benashka Thomas added five kills, a block and a dig. Med Thomas had two kills and a block. Troy Freeman had two kills.
Cooper had eight aces and nine digs. Morgan Aikins totaled a kill, seven digs and two aces. Mycah Riddle had 15 digs and an assist.
Chevy McGowan added a kill and five digs. Anna Giltz finished with four digs and two aces. Tink Clark had one dig.
The loss was the first for Hopkins Central, which is now 3-1 and 0-1.
Calajia Mason had seven kills and a block for the Lady Storm while Mallory Wagoner recorded seven kills and three digs.
Aalycia Stringer totaled six kills. Izzy Gunn had four kills and four aces.
Izzy Hight had 29 assists, three digs and two aces. Lyla Fortner had 10 digs and an ace while Emma Hight recorded four digs.
Cortner will go for his 200th coaching victory when the Lady Tigers host Muhlenberg County Thursday at the CAB gym. Cortner, now in his 10th season as head coach at Caldwell, is 199-118.
Sue Stone went 350-135-2 in 14 seasons after starting the Caldwell volleyball program in 2001.
A win Thursday would be the 550th all-time for Caldwell (against 257 losses and two ties).
