Lady Pats taken down by Cumberland
Allen County-Scottsville junior Georgie Tabor earned All-Tournament team honors with her play in last week’s Region 4 tournament. Tabor had 29 kills, eight kills, eight digs, and an ace in the match against Cumberland County. Metcalfe County Athletic Director John Allen made the award presentation. (photo by Don Meador).
By Don Meador,
Sports Writer
The Allen County-Scottsville Lady Patriots were five points away from reaching the semifinals of the Region 4 volleyball tournament last week. Then, the wheels fell off. Cumberland County outscored AC-S 9-3 over the final 12 points of the third set to stay alive in the match. The run not only saved the match for the Lady Panthers but also laid the foundation for an epic rally resulting in a 3-2 match win.
AC-S played solid in the first two sets. Playing in their 13th consecutive regional tournament, the Lady Patriots captured the first set 25-18 behind the strong play of Georgie Tabor and Katelyn Duncan. The set was close until the Lady Patriots closed on a 7-0 run to go up 1-0 in the best of five match.
Lady Patriot Claire Clay (18) returns a volley in action last week at Metcalfe County in the Region 4 tournament. Clay had 17 digs and four assists in the team’s loss to Cumberland County. (photo by Don Meador).
The one-two punch of Duncan and Tabor combined with solid contributions by Claire Clay, Lily Cook, Nellie Saylors, Laurel Weaver and Danica Harmon, carried into the second set–a set AC-S won 25-23. Cumberland County led early before AC-S rallied to build an 18-14 lead. Cumberland County outscored AC-S 9-5 before a kill by Duncan gave the Lady Patriots the two-point win,
The Lady Patriots appeared on their way to advancing in the tournament 36 points into the third set. After ties at eight, nine, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, an ace by Addison Ramsey and a winner by Ashlyn Meador lifted AC-S to the 20-16 lead. The Lady Panthers stormed back to catch and pass the Lady Patriots, Cumberland County’s run led to the District 16 champions winning the set 25-23.
AC-S junior Katelyn Duncan (3) goes for a kill against Cumberland County. Duncan tallied 19 kills in the five-set match. (photo by Don Meador).
The play of the Lady Panthers at the close of the third set shifted momentum. The result was Cumberland County controlling the fourth set over a tiring and stunned Lady Patriot squad. The final set score was 25-14.
In the fifth set, the Lady Panthers raced to a 4-1 lead. Following a timeout, AC-S responded to tie the set at nine following a kill by Duncan. After taking the 10th point and edging ahead 11-9 and then 12-9, a side out gave the point to Cumberland County. A kill by the Lady Panthers and a wide return by AC-S evened the contest at 12. A Lady Panther side out gave the Lady Patriots the ball with a 13-12 lead. On the next volley, Cumberland County tied the match at 13 on an overhead winner. A kill and an ace gave Cumberland County the 15-13 set win and the match, 3-2.
Lady Patriot Laurel Weaver (5) serves in action last week in regional tournament play. Weaver is a junior on the Lady Patriot squad. (photo by Don Meador).
The loss overshadowed an outstanding match from Duncan. The junior striker registered 19 kills. Tabor added 29 assists, eight kills, and eight digs–stats that helped her earn All-Tournament team honors. Cook contributed seven kills. Clay finished with a team-high 17 digs.
AC-S closed the season with a 20-20 record. Eventual region champion Bowling Green eliminated Cumberland County–appearing in their first regional tournament since 2015–in the semifinals.
Junior Jaylin Blankenship (25) concentrates on acing her serve against Cumberland County. Blankenship is one of nine juniors on the Lady Patriot roster that are expected to return next year. (photo by Don Meador).
