The last time the Owensboro Lady Devils were 4-0, “Cruise” by Florida-Georgia Line was the No. 1 country song.
Ironically enough, cruise is what they’ve done to start the season as they continue their best start since 2013 when they started the season 5-0.
To get that fourth win, the Lady Devils took down Owensboro Catholic 3-1 (26-28, 25-13, 25-18, 25-15) to move to 2-0 in 9th District play after beating Apollo last week.
Both teams came out of the gate battling and Catholic was able to grab a 28-26 win in the first set.
“I think that first set we came out and we just had a hard time getting into a rhythm,” OHS coach Melissa Hibbs said. “The major difference was the serves. We talk about it and we practice it. We worked on drills all week about that. Serves have to go over and in and we can defend against it. It doesn’t have to be the strongest serve in the world but we have to give ourselves a chance. We can’t give points away.”
But, as they’ve shown this season in district contests when the Lady Devils drop a set, they come back tougher than before.
OHS won the second set 25-13 as they gained momentum as the match went on.
Hibbs said she doesn’t deter her players from thinking about a district crown as that’s always on their minds.
“Our ultimate goal is to win the district,” she said. “Every single point, we say, is a practice to get ready for district. If we’re not playing well against those other teams then that’s not getting us ready for our district match. That is our mindset. Every single practice and every single game is to get ready for those district games.”
Catholic coach Brian Hardison agreed about the importance of preparing for the district tournament, as he team now falls to 0-1 in the 9th.
“Yes, you want to be first in districts but everything up until districts is basically a learning curve,” he said. “All we do, everything we work on, everything that we do until then is practice.”
Hardison said Owensboro has been playing well this season but he’s not surprised, as he’s watched most of the Lady Devil roster in club volleyball.
He said Hibbs definitely has the Lady Devils going in the right direction.
“I tell them every year, I hate going up against her,” he said. “She can fire those girls up.”
Owensboro plays at McLean Thursday while Catholic plays at home Thursday against Breckinridge County.
Owensboro 3, Owensboro Catholic 1
OHS (4-0) 26 25 25 25–1
OCHS (0-2) 28 13 18 15–1
OHS: Brooklyn Williams (1 ace, 8 kills, 1 assist, 1 dig), Chase Mather (1 ace, 8 kills, 1 assist, 9 digs), Hannah Ashley (1 ace, 1 kill, 6 assists, 9 digs), Jersie Rhineburger (1 ace, 3 assists, 19 digs), Kennedy Thompson (3 aces, 4 assists, 6 digs), Krystell Pappas (2 aces, 8 kills, 13 assists, 15 digs), Lainey Hayden (7 kills, 7 aces, 1 assist, 20 digs), Mia Covington (6 kills, 1 assist, 1 dig)
OCHS: Jenna Glenn (2 aces, 18 digs), Cate Signs (11 kills, 3 blocks), Paige Miles (10 assists, 2 kills, 1 block, 4 digs), Madeline Castlen (1 ace, 13 kills, 2 blocks), Kennedy Murphy (7 assists, 9 digs), Allie Hamilton (2 aces, 3 assists), Lexi Miles (3 kills, 2 digs), Emily Christian (2 aces, 12 digs), Delaney Flaherty (7 digs), Lilly Farmer (2 aces, 13 assists, 6 digs), Grace Mosley (33 assists),
