Harlan County set up a showdown next week against Bell County for the top seed in the 52nd District Tournament with a 25-16, 19-25, 25-14, 25-21 victory Thursday at Harlan.
The Lady Bears rolled to a win in the first set before Harlan fought back in the second, scoring the first six points with Carley Thomas serving several aces. HC fought back to cut the deficit to 9-7 and trailed 18-14 before Harlan pulled away again.
HC dominated the third set, racing to a 13-1 lead with Lindsay Hall serving most of the way and Kalista Dunn and Emilee Eldridge closing out points at the net. Harlan got as close as eight with Campbell Nunez serving a couple of aces before the Lady Bears closed out the set.
‘There were several lead changes in the fourth set before HCHS broke a tie with three straight points to go up 10-7. Harlan County led 23-18 when Harlan made a final run to get with three on serves by Thomas before the Lady Bears scored the final point.
Thomas led the Lady Dragons with eight service aces, 10 digs, four kills, two assists and one block. Ella Farley added 15 digs and one ace, Annie Hoskins had eight digs, two aces, four blocks and three kills. Emma Owens added 12 digs, three assists and one kill. Ava Nunez had 12 digs and two kills, Kendyll Blanton had nine digs and one assist. Campbell Nunes chipped in with four aces and one assist. Carley Jump had two digs.
Dunn led the Lady Bears with 11 digs, five assists and nine digs. Hall added five service aces, five digs and nine kills. Chloe Shelton had 17 assists, three aces, two digs and one kill. Destiny Cornett added six assists and six digs. Ashton Evans had six digs, five kills and two aces. Kylee Hoiska had six digs, five kills and one ace. Eldridge added four digs and six kills. Lesleigh Brown contributed four aces and three digs. Brooklyn Wood had five digs. Savannah Hill added one ace and one kill.
Harlan County won 21-7, 21-10 in junior varsity action. The Lady Bears defeated Pineville 21-11, 21-12 in junior varsity action and fell 21-12, 21-14 to Letcher Central.
The 7-7 Lady Dragons play at Knox Central on Monday. The 5-6 Lady Bears will be at home against Bell County on Tuesday and can tie for the top seed in the district with a victory.