The 52nd District Tournament opens Monday at Bell County High School.
The top-seeded Lady Cats, who were undefeated in district action, will take a 12-6 record into the opening game at 5:30 p.m. against Harlan (3-7). Middlesboro (1-12) will play Harlan County (4-9) at 8 p.m. The championship game is set for Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Middlesboro, Harlan County and Harlan tied for second in the regular-season district standings with identical 1-2 marks. Middlesboro emerged as the second seed during a district draw, with HCHS taking third and Harlan fourth.
The top two teams in the district tournament advance to regional competition
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Harlan will take a two-match win streak into the tournament following a 21-25, 25-14, 25-16, 25-22 win at Middlesboro on Monday.
Carley Thomas led the Lady Dragons with 21 service aces, 13 digs and four assists. Emma Owens had 19 digs, 10 assists, three service aces and two kills. Taylor Hall added five service aces, 10 digs, seven assists and two kills. Bailee Maples had three service aces, 13 digs and nine assists. Marissa Marlowe added four service aces, seven digs, 11 assists and 10 kills. Annie Hoskins had two service aces, seven digs, nine assists and two kills. Campbell Nunez contributed four digs and three assists. Tess Bryson had two digs. Kendyll Blanton added one dig. Ava Nunez had one assist.
Chloe Burchette led Middlesboro with nine service aces, 10 digs, 15 assists and six kills. Harmony Goins added 17 assists, eight digs and two kills. Autumn Short contributed six service aces, six digs, 14 assists and five kills. Emalee Sullivan added 15 assists, nine digs, five service aces and five kills. Gabby Daniels had 12 assists, eight digs, three service aces and one kill. Emily Wilson had 14 assists, four digs, three service aces and one kill.
Middlesboro closed its regular season schedule with a 23-25, 25-13, 25-19, 25-11 loss at Pineville on Thursday.
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Harlan County closed its season with a 25-16, 25-14, 26-24 loss Thursday to visiting Lynn Camp.
Lindsay Hall led the Lady Bears with three service aces and one dig. Lindsey Browning had two blocks, one kill, one dig and one service ace. Kateria Lewis had three digs, one assist and one kill. Lilly Caballero added one dig, one block and one kill. Emily Eldridge added one dig.
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Bell County won two of three matches during the week, defeating Pineville 25-3, 25-15, 25-17 on Monday, falling to Jackson County 16-25, 25-17, 25-13 on Tuesday and defeating Red Bird 25-23, 25-13, 25-20 on Thursday.
Raegan Robbins led Bell against Pineville with 12 service aces, 22 digs, 15 assists and three kills. Makenna Lefevers had 13 service aces, 21 digs and seven kills. Lauren Fultz had 20 digs. Madison Ford added 19 digs, two service aces, seven kills and one block.
Kailey Harris led Pineville with five service aces and eight digs. Mckenzie Widener had seven kills, four blocks, two service aces and two digs.