Lady Hawks win District opener

Terry Sandidge

Senior outside hitter Miranda Hornback prepared to serve in recent Lady Hawks’ action.

Buy this photo

Terry Sandidge

Buy this photo

The LaRue County Lady Hawks will get another opportunity to play for a district title after sweeping tournament host Caverna in the 18th District Volleyball Tournament semifinals Monday night.

Junior middle hitter Ivy Brown had nine digs, seven aces, five blocks and a match-high 19 kills to lead second-seeded LaRue County to a 25-10, 25-7, 25-23 win – and a rematch with longtime nemesis Green County in Tuesday’s title match at 7 – over the third-seeded Lady Colonels.

Senior outside hitter Miranda Hornback chipped in with 12 kills, two aces and two digs, senior middle hitter Haley Holt added eight kills, seven digs, two blocks and one ace. Freshman right-side hitter Chloe Owen had nine kills, and junior right-side hitter Alley Evans added six kills and two blocks.

“It means a lot to get back into the district final,” said LaRue County coach Ben Schell. “It’s almost become commonplace for us. We’re just hoping for a different result this year.”

Green County (29-5) has had LaRue County’s number recently. The Lady Dragons swept the Lady Hawks (20-9-1) in the regular season and have beaten LaRue County in six straight district finals.

“Obviously things are going to have to go right,” Schell said. “If both teams show up and both teams play their best, there’s no telling what can happen.” 

Lady Panthers

The Lady Hawks Volleyball Team lost (3-1) 25-18, 22-25, 25-13, 25-22 Oct. 1 to the Elizabethtown Lady Panthers.

After Elizabethtown cruised to a third-set victory, it looked like LaRue County would answer with a blowout in the fourth set. The Lady Hawks recorded the first four points and stretched their lead to 11-3. But Elizabethtown rallied, going on a 17-4 run to take a 22-17 advantage. 

The Lady Hawks scored three straight points off Elizabethtown mental errors before junior middle hitter Ivy Brown, who had two blocks, recorded one of her team-high nine kills. One point later, the Lady Hawks tied the set at 22.

But LaRue County had issues of its own and three straight errors gave Elizabethtown the match.

The Lady Hawks had eight service errors in the first set, won a tight second set, got burned by two 4-0 runs in the third and ended the night with mental mistakes.

LaRue County finished with 10 aces, including three each by Holt and senior libero Lauren Meredith. Hornback and Owen added five kills each.

Nelson

The homestanding Lady Hawks were swept for just the sixth time this season (25-11, 25-23, 25-22) by Nelson County Thursday.

Brown led LaRue County with eight kills, five digs and three blocks, while Hornback had five kills and one ace.

Owen added six kills and Evans chipped in with three blocks and one kill.