The Bowling Green Lady Purples entered the 4th Region volleyball tournament this week as the highest-rated team in the region, and they did nothing to harm that ranking Tuesday night in their regional quarterfinal match against the Todd County Central Lady Rebels. The Lady Purples’ depth and strength at the net were a bit more than the Lady Rebels could handle as Bowling Green took a straight-set win to advance to the regional semifinals.
The Lady Purples have now not lost a set since they dropped a 2-0 match decision to McCracken County back in September in the Kentucky Challenge.
Led by University of Louisville commit Amirra Bailey, Bowling Green jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead in the opening set.
Aubri Penick and Allyssa Wofford helped to bring the Lady Rebels back to within 8-4, but then Bowling Green ripped off a 5-0 run to push the lead out to 13-4 and take firm control of the set.
Trailing 19-7, Penick got rolling and came up with four kills and two blocks to cut the lead to 21-11, but that would be it for the rally as the Lady Purples took the set 25-13 to go up one set to none.
Five different Lady Purples had kills in the set, led by Amirra Bailey with two and former UHA standout Chayse Gilliland with two. Olivia Arauz had two service aces.
Aubri Penick had four kills and two blocks for the Lady Rebels, while Allyssa Wofford added three kills.
The second set was almost over as quickly as it started. Arauz had another pair of service aces, and the Lady Purples got big kills from Harper Huffman and Hadley Beard as Bowling Green came roaring out to take a 10-1 lead. The Lady Rebels never recovered from the opening blitz as the Lady Purples cruised on out to take the set 25-7 to go up two sets to none.
Harper Huffman had four kills to lead Bowling Green. Amirra Bailey added three more.
With their season on the line, the Lady Rebels opened the third set going toe-to-toe with the Lady Purples. The set was tied early at 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, and 6-6, as Todd County Central got some big plays from Allyssa Wofford, Chloe Collins, Shelby Holderman, and Naomi Gammon.
But there would be no denying the Lady Purples in this one. With the score at 6-6, Bowling Green scored 6 straight points to go up 12-6. With Amirra Bailey and Morgan Rockrohr leading the way, the Lady Purples closed out strong to take the set 25-12 and complete the straight-set sweep.
Bailey and Rockrohr had three kills each for Bowling Green in the final set.
Aubri Penick and Allyssa Wofford again led the Lady Rebels as Penick had four kills and Wofford added two more.
After the match, it was announced that Allyssa Wofford had been named to the All-Tournament Team.
Todd County Central finishes the season at 16-12.
Bowling Green improves to 35-3 and will now take on Warren East in the second regional semifinal. Greenwood and Logan County will play in the first semifinal Wednesday night.
