Match point!
Paintsville won a close second set, coming from two points down, and one point from elimination, to force a deciding third set against Covington Holy Cross, and the Lady Tigers carried the momentum to the program’s first-ever All “A” Classic state volleyball championship at McBrayer Arena in Richmond on Saturday.
The Lady Tigers, now 24-2, won five matches without losing a set before beating Holy Cross, 2-1. They became only the second public school to win the championship, joining Caldwell County in 2010.
Pool-play wins came over Wolfe County and Williamsburg on Friday night, and Presentation on Saturday morning. Paintsville then beat Bethlehem in the quarterfinals, and Community Christian of Paducah in the semis to set up the title match showdown.
Here is a recap:
Paintsville……2
Holy Cross……1
Blair Ratliff had 14 kills, seven blocks, including four solo, and four digs in the 17-25, 26-24, and 25-18 win.
Bella Blackburn finished with 30 assists, 10 digs and three aces while Kylie Kinner and Hailey Little finished with seven kills each.
Kara Ward finished with four kills and 14 digs, along with Kynzi Slone.
Paintsville…….,…2
CC of Paducah…0
Hailey Little totaled 13 kills and two blocks in the 25-17 and 25-13 match sweep.
Kara Ward finished with five kills and 11 digs while Bella Blackburn added 24 assists and four digs. Blair Ratliff collected six kills, two blocks and four digs. Kinzie Slone had eight digs.
Paintsville……2
Bethlehem……0
Kara Ward finished with five kills, one block and eight digs in the 25-19 and 25-21 win.
Bella Blackburn totals 18 assists and five digs while Blair Ratliff added eight digs. Kat Baldwin had four digs and four serving aces.
Paintsville……2
Presentation…0
Kara Ward totaled six kills, 14 digs and two aces in the 25-11 and 25-12 win.
Blair Ratliff added five kills, three blocks and three serving aces. Hailey Little finished with seven kills and two blocks.
Kylie Kinner had five kills and two blocks while Bella Blackburn collected 14 assists.
Paintsville………2
Williamsburg….0
Kara Ward had nine kills and five digs in the 25-10 and 25-6 win.
Blair Ratliff followed with eight kills and four serving aces. Hailey Little totaled seven kills, four digs and three aces.
Bella Blackburn finished with 22 assists and two digs.
Paintsville………2
Wolfe County….0
Hailey Little had 10 kills and three digs in the 25-10 and 25-18 win.
Kylie Kinner finished with nine kills and Kynzi Slone added three assists and eight digs. Bella Blackburn collected 21 assists, three digs and two aces.