
Harlan County and Bell County rolled into the 52nd District Tournament finals for the sixth straight year with 3-0 victories Monday at Harlan High School to set up a showdown on Tuesday at 7 for the championship. The 16-13 Lady Bears overcame their own errors in the early going before coasting to a 25-13, 25-13, 25-6 win over Harlan. The Lady Cats knocked off an improved Middlesboro squad by a final of 25-6, 25-13, 25-11.
“They say tough games build character, and if that’s true, this team has had its fair share this season. Every match, win or lose, has been a stepping stone, sharpening the focus and fueling the drive for a shot at another district title,” Harlan County assistant coach Gregory York said. “Tonight, however, the mission was personal. It was our seniors’ final chance to face the Lady Dragons. From the opening serve, the girls were dialed in. They played with a level of focus and intensity that reflects the journey we’ve been on. This team has momentum, as we head into the district championship, I can’t wait to see how far this drive will take us. The book on this team is far from closed.”
“We had a game plan, and I thought we came out strong,” Bell County coach Shawn Fultz said. “Middlesboro has improved a lot, but we’ve worked hard. We have a goal and we hope to reach that goal tomorrow. We wanted to peak at the end of the season. Our girls are ready for a battle tomorrow night, and we’re looking forward to it.”
Harlan County was clinging to a 5-4 lead in the first set before reeling off eight straight points with Savannah Hill serving. Kalista Dunn and Madi Nolan each had kills in the run. Nolan and Kylee Hoiska pushed the lead to 19-9 before both teams traded mistakes. Nolan’s kill ended the set.
Cheyenne Childers and Jordyn Shackleford kept Harlan close in the second set, trailing 15-12 before Dunn and Hoiska took over at the net to close with a 10-1 run that also included a kill from Abbie Blackburn.
Harlan County took control much faster in the final set with a 11-1 run that included aces from Nolan and Karli Shoupe, along with a block from Hoiska and kill by Ashlynn Williamson. Dunn, Blackburn, Nolan and Aly Sherman each had kills as the lead grew to 20-4. Dunn recorded three aces and Nolan had a block as HC closed with five straight points.
Harlan, with no seniors on its roster, ended the season with 10 straight losses and a 6-25 record.
“If you look at wins and losses, the year doesn’t go as planned. If you look at Game 1 vs postseason, I think we did things that we never thought we could,” Harlan coach Sierra Crow said. “We set a goal of increasing our volleyball IQ as a team, and I can say my girls did just that. I’m proud of the progress we made and the way we battled and rallied with veteran teams. We have some off- season work to do, but our time is coming.”
Bell County wasted no time taking control in the nightcap, racing to a 14-1 lead with Kairi Lamb and Adyson Scott trading kills. Maleah Crenshaw had the only point for Middlesboro before Bell missed on a couple of serves. Neveah Allen, a senior honored after the game for reaching the 1,000-assist mark, recorded an ace in a 5-0 run to close the set.
Alexis Brown recorded a pair of aces in the second set after Middlesboro had closed to within 5-4 on kills by Lilah Russell and Leah Spencer. Scott had two kills, and Lamb added a block as Bell built a 20-10 advantage before Middlesboro interrupted the run with a kill by Abby Appleby. A Brown ace and Lamb helped the Lady Cats close out the set.
Middlesboro pulled even at 8-8 in the third set before Bell took control with Reece Jasick serving in an 11-0 run.
The Lady Jackets finished the season at 8-15, doubling their win total from the previous year.
