The Todd County Central Lady Rebels’ bid to return to the All A Classic state volleyball tournament will have to wait another year. The Lady Rebels dropped a tough two-set decision Saturday afternoon to defending 4th Region All A champion Monroe County in the semifinal round at Todd County Central High School
It was the second straight year, the Lady Rebels have been knocked out of the tournament by the Lady Falcons.
The two sets were tough fights right to the very end with each team having their chances to win.
The opening set was tied 12 times, the last time coming at 22-22 as Monroe County scored the next three points to take the set 25-22 and go up one set to none. Aubri Penick, Shelby Holderman, and Chloe Collins had big sets for the Lady Rebels. Penick had five kills, Holderman added 11 assists, and Collins had nine digs.
As things moved into the second set, it would end up being more of the same. It did not start out that way as Monroe County bolted out to s 5-1 lead, and it looked as if it would be a quick set.
A thunderous kill from Aubri Penick triggered a 5-0 run that brought Todd County to the lead at 6-5. The Lady Rebels would extend their lead to as many as six points, the last time at 16-10. With the lead at 17-12, Todd County Central had a run of unforced errors that brought Monroe County back into the game.
The Lady Falcons pulled even at 19-19, the first of seven ties over the final moments of the set. Todd County Central had a set point at 24-23 but Monroe County fought through to tie the match at 24-24. The Lady Falcons had a match point at 25-24, but the Lady Rebels managed to tie the match at 25-25.
But it was not to be for the Lady Rebels as Monroe County scored the next two points to win the set 27-25 and close out the match two sets to none.
Aubri Penick had six more kills, giving her 11 for the match. Shelby Holderman picked up another 8 assists, giving her 19 for the match. Chloe Collins, who had a stellar day keeping points alive, added five more digs, giving her 14 for the two sets.
The loss ends a four-match winning streak for Todd County Central and drops them to 5-4 for the season. The Lady Rebels go on the road Tuesday night for a 13th District match at Russellville.
