After securing the program’s first-ever win in the 2nd Region tournament earlier this week, the Union County volleyball team squeezed past Christian County 3-1 on Wednesday to advance to Thursday’s championship match against Heritage Christian Academy.
Looking for their first trip to the region finale since 2015, Christian County rode the momentum of Monday’s victory over tournament favorites Crittenden County to a 25-22 win in the opening set.
Skylar Kirby had three straight kills to lead the Lady Colonels to an early 6-3 lead, but Union County edged in front at 13-10 on Addison Tamayo’s ace.
Christian County tied it at 19-19 on an ace by Kaidence Atwell, and Kirby scored the last four points on a pair of kills and two aces for a 25-22 win.
The Lady Colonels stayed on the front foot to start the second, leading 15-12 after an Atwell kill. However, after Union County tied it at 17-17, Serena Oba’s kill jumpstarted an 8-2 run for a 25-19 victory.
Christian County again was on top to start the third set, leading 15-11 after an ace forced a Union County timeout. Dana Curry had three kills in quick succession to pull the Bravettes even at 18-18, and they didn’t trail again in a two-point win for a 2-1 advantage.
A fifth set looked likely after a 7-1 run to start the fourth, but Union County again reeled in the Lady Colonels and knotted it at 14-14. Kirby’s kill gave Christian County its final lead at 22-21, but the Bravettes closed on a 4-1 spurt capped by Tamayo’s kill to clinch the match.
Christian County’s season ended at 13-19, while Union County improved to 16-7 with its seventh win in a row. The Bravettes and Heritage Christian Academy will meet for the first time in program history in Thursday’s final.
