Match 1
ALC-3; Welch -1
The Eagles would drop the opener before roaring back to win the match in four sets over the Lady Flames (2-3).
In game 1, Welch jumped out swiftly to a big 13-3 lead. Although the Lady Eagles would chip away at that deficit and get within two (22-20) the Flames won, 25-20.
Game 2 saw the Caney Creek crew grab a small lead, but the Tennessee club stayed close. Although the match remained tight, ALC made the big plays to win, 25-22.
Game 3, saw the Bluegrass ladies come out determined and they roared out to a 11-1 lead. Although Welch never gave up, the Pippa Passes posse won, 25-19.
Game 4 saw a tough battle with both clubs matching kills. However, with the score reading 21-20, the east Kentucky crew closed with a 5-1 spurt to seal the deal, 25-21.
For the match, the victors led in kills (47-34), assists (40-26), service aces (12-5), and assists (43-30), while the Flames led in digs, 77-62. Individually for the Lady Eagles, Rose Scotello (11) Kyleah Ward (9) and Callie Butler (9) led in kills. Gracie Gibson led with 20 digs while Payton Taylor distributed 35 assists. Gibson had 5 aces.
Match 2
ALC-2; UC Clermont-3
ALC would play well, before falling in a five-set heartbreaker to a strong Cougar squad (12-1).
In game 1, the clubs battled evenly for the first portion of the game. However, with things knotted up at 12-12, the Caney Creek crew let off a 11-2 bomb to sprint ahead 23-14. They would settle for the 25-20 victory.
Game 2 saw the Lady Cougars power ahead 12-6, forcing a timeout from the blue and white. Even though ALC would get within a deuce (18-16), UCC closed with a 7-1 burst to take the match, 25-17-
Game 3, saw the Pippa Passes posse play their best ball as they took control early, 12-6. They would maintain their advantage, and settle for the nice 25-19 win.
Game 4 was critical, and the Bluegrass ladies looked good early, pulling out, 8-4. Later, they would extend it to five (14-9) and force a Cougar timeout. Out of the TO, Clermont quickly answered with a 6-1 run to knot the game at 15-15, forcing a Lady Eagle timeout.
Once again, the east Kentucky ladies answered. They inched ahead 21-17, and appeared ready to secure the match. Unfortunately, but to their credit, the hosts rallied. Four big kills plus an Eagle error fueled a quick 5-1 spurt, and the game was now tied, 22-22.
After each squad scored a point to make things 23-23, ALC committed back-to-back errors, giving the game to the hosts, 25-23. A fifth set would now be needed to determine a victor.
In Game 5, with the match on the line, the two foes played with intensity, each desperate for the win. After exchanging points for the first half of play, Alice Lloyd rolled off a short spurt, and led 14-11.
Suddenly just one point away from the win, the blue and white saw UCC use two-kills and 2 Eagle-errors to move ahead, 15-14. Then, on the next play, Clermont's kills leader Kaitlyn Finnigan unleashed her match-leading 19th kill, handing the Bluegrass bunch a heart-breaking defeat, 16-14.
For the closely-played match, the Eagles led in kills (60-56) assists (55-51), and digs (72-68) while the Ohio team led in service aces, (12-6) and blocks (8-4). Individually for the Lady Eagles, Butler (15), Taylan Hoskins (12) and Ward (11) provided the kills. Gibson (17), Camryn Thompson (14) and Taylor (11) led in digs while Taylor raked in 49 assists. Christa Amburgey led with 3 aces while Gibson chipped in with 2.
