Going into Tuesday night’s 8th District volleyball contest, the Fort Campbell Lady Falcons had not beaten University Heights in just over 13 years. So dominant had the run been that UHA had only lost three sets to the Lady Falcons during that same time span.
However, all of those historical facts now are just that, history.
The Fort Campbell Lady Falcons picked up one of the biggest wins in recent program history Tuesday night by sweeping past the Lady Blazers in straight sets.
The last win in the series for the Lady Falcons was back on August 9, 2012, when Fort Campbell won in five sets, which at the time was the Lady Falcons fifth straight win in the series.
Tuesday night, the Lady Falcons came out ready from the very start and took the opening set 25-16 to go up one set to none.
Fort Campbell opened even stronger in the second set. The Lady Falcons flew out to a 15-3 lead and it looked as if it would be a short set. However, give the Lady Blazers credit, they did not go down easy. UHA would close to within 20-16, but there would be no denying the Lady Falcons in the second as they went on to take the set 25-19 and go up two sets to none.
The third set saw the Lady Falcons again jump out to a big lead at 13-7. But, the Lady Blazers scored the next six points to tie the set at 13-13 and it was ‘game on.’ The set would be tied at 17 and 18 before the Lady Blazers took the lead at 19-18.
Fort Campbell scored three straight to go back in front 21-19. The final moments of the set went back and forth. UHA had a set point at 24-23 with a chance to send the match to a fourth set but the Lady Falcons came up with a huge play on an epic length point to keep the set alive. And that was enough momentum for the Lady Falcons to ride out to a 28-26 set win and complete the straight-set win.
Leilani Crawford let the Fort Campbell net attack with 8 kills. D’Lyla Melton had a big night for the Lady Falcons with 7 kills and 10 digs. Olivia Voelkel ended up with 7 kills and 20 digs. Baylee Backes added 6 more kills. Makayla Galvez was huge setting up her teammates, ending the night with 33 assists. She also had 6 digs and four kills. Kyndal Bradley came up with 5 service aces.
Fort Campbell improves to 4-1 with the win. Up next is a match Friday night at Livingston Central in the opening round of the 2nd Region All A Classic.
UHA drops to 3-5 with the loss. The Lady Blazers go across North Drive Thursday evening to take on Christian County in another 8th District matchup.
