DC tops Catholic for 9th District volleyball crown

October 23, 2020 | 12:04 am

Updated October 23, 2020 | 1:45 am

Photo by Ryan Richardson

The Lady Panthers came with their focus squarely on a 9th District title. With a strong night from the front line and an aggressive approach, Daviess County downed Owensboro Catholic 3-1 (25-21, 25-21, 21-25, 25-11) Thursday night to claim their first championship since 2015.

“It’s an awesome feeling,” said DC head coach Tyla Bailey. “I’m very proud of the way the team came out. We had a mission, and that was to serve strong, set the tempo early, and play our game. I really feel like the girls executed that, and I am so proud of how they played. They just fought the whole time.”

The first three sets were a battle, neither team gaining much advantage until the final points of each frame. The fourth set was all about DC. 

A 7-0 run on the serve of Eizabeth Moore helped the Lady Panthers take a 12-4 advantage in the final set. Catholic got within 13-8 before DC scored points in chunks to easily pull away.

“The fourth set we grouped the girls together and said we needed to get the job done,” Bailey said. “We knew the energy and working together as a team would set us apart. We gave them things to do, and they got the job done.”

Catholic head coach Brian Hardison said he’s not sure why his team faded away in the fourth set.

“We didn’t play, that’s for sure,” he said. “They aren’t a 25-11 better team than us, bottom line. It seemed like they picked us apart and we just weren’t ready.”

It was an impressive performance from the front line for the Lady Panthers, who combined booming shoots with a few finesse plays to compliment a handful of blocks at the net.

Moore finished with 17 kills and 12 digs to go along with three aces. Adylan Ayer added 10 kills and 11 blocks, while Jasmine Beasley also had 10 kills. Josie Newcom chipped in nine kills, six digs and four blocks.

Other strong performances came from Kendal Goetz (10 digs, 3 aces), Ryann Keller (28 assists), Kloee Phelps (12 digs, 5 kills) and Lexi Owen (18 assists, 7 digs).

“Tonight was the most aggressive I’ve seen some of them play,” Bailey said. “It’s good to see what we’ve practiced being executed.”

DC was one of the favorites the year to win the district, and possible region, but Bailey said they stayed focused on winning each game.

“Regardless of how people viewed us, it’s good to just prove that we have what it takes, we got the job done, and we’re not playing around,” she said.

The Lady Aces hung tough in the first two sets before winning the third. 

The first set was tied 17-all before DC created some space with a 5-0 run, and a late push wasn’t enough for Catholic to draw even again.

Set two unfolded similarly, with the Lady Panthers using a 4-0 to go up 17-13 and maintain their distance the rest of the way.

Catholic had a few opportunities to open a big lead in the third set but could never quite pull away, though they won the last three points to cut their deficit in half.

“We never matched their energy,” Hardson said. “We’d get one or two points, then kind of crumble.”

Madeline Castlen finished with 13 kills for the Lady Aces, while Paige Miles had six and Lexi Miles and Allie Hamilton added five each. Kennedy Murphy had 33 assists and three aces. Catholic got digs from Jenna Glenn (18), Delanie Brey (12), Lexi Miles (11), Delaney Flaherty (10), Paige Sights (8) and Cate Sights (6).

Both teams now advance to next week’s 3rd Region Tournament in Grayson County. The draw will be held Saturday morning.

Bailey said their work isn’t finished yet.

“We’re going to celebrate this, but there’s still a long way to go,” she said. “This just makes us realize that we do have what it takes. Why stop here?”

October 23, 2020 | 12:04 am

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