With over 70 wins, two 52nd District championships and two regional final four appearances with the hope of adding to that total later this month, the Harlan County Lady Bears’ senior class is among the best in county volleyball history.
The six-girl senior class of Kylee Hoiska, Kalista Dunn, Savannah Hill, Sophie Day, Karli Shoupe and Lilly Mclain were honored before Monday’s Senior Night game and then rolled past visiting Middlesboro 25-6, 25-9, 25-17 to improve to 15-12 on the season.
“Tonight, the net saw more than just a win; it saw the final chapter written by our seniors,” Harlan County assistant coach Greg York said. “The scoreboard will fade, but the legacy of hustle, heart and leadership these girls left behind will be the true banner that hangs in this gym forever. They didn’t just play the game; they raised the standard.”
Harlan County jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set with Day serving. Two aces by Shoupe and kills from Abigail Blackburn and Hoiska pushed the lead to 11-4. Hill reeled off nine straight service points as part of a 10-0 run to close the set.
The Lady Bears grabbed a 3-0 lead in the second set with an ace from Madi Nolan and a diving kill by Hoiska. Middlesboro scored six of the next seven points to take a brief lead before Hoiska, Dunn and Hill brought HC back. Meleah Crenshaw scored for the Lady Jackets before Dunn served the final eight points of the set.
Sudie Howerton and Crenshaw had big plays for Middlesboro in the third set as the Lady Jackets got as close as 13-10 in the third set before Nolan, Hoiska and Dunn closed out the match.
The 7-13 Lady Jackets will play host to Oneida Baptist on Tuesday and Harlan on Wednesday before traveling to Barbourville on Thursday. Harlan County will close its regular season schedule Thursday at South Laurel.