There was still just a little more history to be written for the Christian County Lady Colonel volleyball program Thursday night. With the approach of next fall’s merger between Christian County High School and Hopkinsville High School, the Lady Colonels added another chapter by winning their final ever match to be played on their home floor, taking a tough four-set win over the defending 8th District champion Heritage Christian in front of a boisterous crowd in Lyle Dunbar Gym.
The win gives the Lady Colonels their final 8th District title and their first since 2015, when they swept University Heights. It also avenges a loss to the Lady Warriors in last season’s district title match.
The two teams opened the night going toe-to-toe in the first set. The opener was tied nine times early on, the last coming at 12-12. The Lady Colonels got solid early efforts from Katie Cansler and Taylor Cantrell, while the Lady Warriors were led by the play of Hadlee Hayes and Bralee Fowler.
Getting a spark from Peyton Owens and Kaidence Atwell, Christian County went on a 6-1 run to move out to an 18-13 lead. HCA would score four quick points to get back to within 18-17 but would not pull even again the rest of the set as the Lady Colonels were able to finish the set strong and take a 25-18 win to go up one set to none.
Cantrell and Atwell came up with some big plays at the end to lock down the set win.
The second set opened much like the first, being tied five times in the early going, at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 5-5, and 6-6. Christian County got a jolt from Carly Armstrong, Kaidence Atwell, and the serves of Shiloh Baker and moved out to a 13-10 lead.
Trailing 15-13 in the second, HCA got a nice service run from Charity Chambers that included a pair of service aces and took a 17-15 lead. That lead would reach as many as four points before Ashlea Russell and Katie Cansler helped to lead the Lady Colonels back to even at 23-23.
But this set belonged to the Lady Warriors as HCA scored the final two points to take a 25-23 win and even the match up at a set each.
The third set continued the pattern of close starts as it was tied five times early, the last time coming at 7-7. Jazzy Tejada and Kaidence Atwell triggered a 4-0 run that put Christian County up 11-7. The lead would reach as many as seven points before the Lady Warriors started working their way back into the set.
Some timely play from Emma Dalke, including a kill and two service aces, helped to rally the Lady Warriors to within two points at 21-19. But, Christian County’s strong play at the net enabled the Lady Colonels to turn back the challenge and pick up a 25-20 win to take a two sets to one lead.
The fourth set played out much differently than did the first three. Christian County roared out to take a 16-3 lead and it looked as if the Lady Colonels were ready to run away and hide. Big plays from Ashlea Russell, Taylor Cantrell, Kiley Lambert, and Peyton Owens keyed the hot start for Christian County.
With the lead at 20-8, the Lady Warriors made one last charge to try and get back in the match. A quick run cut the lead to 21-13. A big run, ignited by the play of Hadlee Hayes, brought HCA all the way to within 23-20. But that would be all there was in the late charge.
Christian County scored the final two points, including the championship point on a kill from Kiley Lambert, her third of the set, and the celebration was on as the Lady Colonels won the title three sets to one.
Katie Cansler led the way for Christian County with 12 kills, while Kaidence Atwell added 11. Atwell also had four total blocks, 3 solo and one assisted. Ashlea Russell came up with a huge night with 30 kills, 14 digs, and 7 kills. Peyton Owens added 10 digs and 4 aces, while Shiloh Baker finished with 27 digs and four assists.
Bralee Fowler finished with 13 kills for HCA, while Hadlee Hayes added 12 of her own. Makenzie McCarty added 28 assists and 5 kills.
Christian County (19-16) and Heritage Christian (15-18) will both advance on to next week’s regional tournament, which will get underway Monday night at Hopkins County Central. The draw for the tournament is Friday morning.
