For the first time in four years, Henderson County finds itself back in the winner’s circle in the 2nd Region volleyball tournament.
The Lady Colonels swept three sets from defending champion Heritage Christian Academy Thursday to claim the 2025 regional title at Hopkins County Central High School in Mortons Gap.
Henderson (28-9), which won by scores of 25-17, 26-24, 25-12, advances to the KHSAA State Tournament. The Lady Colonels will visit 3rd Region champion Apollo (30-10) Monday in a first-round matchup. The rest of the state tourney will take place at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester.
Henderson beat Apollo twice during the regular season.
The Lady Colonels got off to a strong start in the regional finale, scoring six straight points to take a 9-3 lead in the first set.
Heritage Christian got only as close as 13-8 before the Lady Colonels claimed the set by eight points.
The Lady Warriors (17-19) tried to even the contest by running out to a 7-1 lead in the second set. HCA led most of the set before Henderson came back to tie things at 19-19.
The Lady Warriors went back up 23-20 but could not hang on. Henderson’s first lead in the set came at 25-24 as the Lady Colonels won six of the final seven points to go up 2-0 in the match.
Henderson never trailed in the third set, bolting to a 9-2 lead on the way to its 10th regional championship in program history.
The Lady Colonels got 12 kills from Kylee Lyons while Evangeline Loffland recorded 10 kills, a block, 16 digs and two aces.
Emerson Sword tallied eight kills, a block, 15 digs and four aces. Caeson Hargitt had five kills and five blocks. Gabby Melvin added two kills. Lilly Payne had three digs and a block.
Addi Kirtley had 15 assists, 11 digs and two aces for the Lady Colonels while Kamryn Raley totaled 16 assists and six digs.
Henderson also got 29 digs, three assists and an ace from Ella Whitledge. Kali Brewer had three digs.
Meanwhile, Heritage Christian made a strong run back to the championship match before falling to Henderson.
The Lady Warriors got 10 kills and 11 digs from Hadlee Hayes while Bralee Fowler had five kills, a block, 11 digs and an ace. Taylor Barbee recorded four kills and 11 digs. Emma Dalke had two kills and a dig.
Makenzie McCarty recorded 19 assists, 10 digs, a block and an ace. Allie Craft had one kill and 13 digs. Avery Lake recorded three digs. Charity Chambers had one dig.
Heritage Christian won its first KHSAA regional championship last season.
