The Woodford County High School volleyball team finished 4-1 and captured the Silver Division championship during the Woodford County Invitational Sept. 18-19 at the former WCHS gym on Frankfort Street.
Woodford opened the two-day tournament Friday with a hard-fought loss to Tates Creek, a team they had played earlier in the week in Lexington. The Lady Jackets won the opening set 25-21 before Tates Creek responded to take the final two sets 25-14 and 15-13.
Woodford bounced back Saturday morning with a 28-26, 21-25, 15-11 victory over John Hardin.
The Lady Jackets stormed out of the gate and built a 14-9 advantage behind a pair of blocks from Kenley Greer and kills by Lucy Culbertson and Scarlett Dabney.
The Bulldogs battled back from an 18-13 deficit to take a 23-22 lead, but Woodford responded and captured the opening set on a kill by Dabney.
John Hardin held a 16-8 advantage in the second set. The Lady Jackets answered with points at the net from Dabney, Culbertson and Lydia Sumner, cutting the deficit to 16-14. The Bulldogs remained aggressive, however, and forced a deciding set with a 25-21 victory.
Woodford grabbed a 5-2 lead in the third set before John Hardin answered with five consecutive points. Trailing 10-6, the Lady Jackets earned a side out and received two strong serves from Lexi Zuber to pull within 10-9.
Woodford completed the comeback behind two aces from Culbertson and a block by Mary Groves, winning the deciding set 15-11.
The Lady Jackets followed with another three-set victory, defeating Henry County 21-25, 25-19, 15-9.
Amelia Miller opened the match with an ace, but Henry County responded with a run to build an 8-4 advantage. Woodford rallied to tie the set behind points from Sumner, Dabney and Culbertson before moving ahead 14-12.
Henry County answered with five consecutive points and went on to take the opening set 25-21.
Natalie Gladdis provided a spark off the bench during the second set, recording a kill and a block on consecutive points to help Woodford build an 11-8 lead.
Henry County rallied to tie the set, but Sumner regained the serve for Woodford with a kill. The Lady Jackets pulled away for a 25-19 victory, punctuated by an ace from Addie Bryant.
Miller served consecutive aces as Woodford opened the deciding set with a 3-0 advantage. The Lady Jackets aggressively controlled the net and extended their lead to 9-3 before Dabney delivered the final point of the 15-9 victory.
Playing four matches Saturday tested the Lady Jackets’ endurance, but Sumner said the players continued supporting one another.
“It gets exhausting, but we end up picking each other up,” Sumner said. “Our energy lifts everybody.”
Woodford continued its strong play in the Silver Division, sweeping Bryan Station 25-8, 25-17 to advance to the championship match.
The Lady Jackets completed their tournament run with another sweep, defeating Boyle County 25-18, 25-21 to claim the Silver Division title.
Coach Meghan Bottom said the format challenged each team’s endurance, particularly those playing four matches Saturday.
“It’s definitely about endurance and who can outlast who,” Bottom said. “In tournaments, I try to get everybody in. Everybody on our bench is ready to step up, so I don’t have any issues putting anybody in at any time.”
With the postseason approaching, Sumner said maintaining the same energy from beginning to end remains a priority.
“We have to finish our games the whole way and not stop,” Sumner said. “We’re trying not to have a roller coaster. We’re trying to stay up at all times.”
Bottom hopes the tournament experience strengthens the Lady Jackets during the final portion of their schedule.
“I hope it brings continued team unity and that they keep pushing and fighting as a team,” Bottom said. “They’ve shown that a lot over the last week. They’ve really grown, they’re playing hard and the effort is there.”
Franklin County won the tournament’s Gold Division and overall championship. Franklin County defeated John Hardin 25-13, 26-24 before sweeping Thomas Nelson 25-12, 25-23 in the championship match