Southwestern falls in five-set thriller in district semis

The Southwestern Lady Warriors fell to McCreary Central in an exciting five-set match in the opening round of the 48th District Volleyball Tournament Monday at the Cougar Den at Somerset Christian School.The Lady Raiders took the first set after a see-saw battle in which neither team led by more than three points.Southwestern took a 26-25 lead on a block by Claire Hudson and Addison Baldwin but a kill by McCreary Central’s Layla Silcox pulled the Lady Raiders even, and they scored the final two points to close out the 28-26 win.The second set looked to be a repeat of the close first set before both teams put together some runs.McCreary Central pulled out to a 16-10 lead only to see Southwestern answer with a run of it’s own to eventually pull even at 17-17 on back-to-back kills by Andrea West.McCreary led 22-20 before Southwestern reeled off five of the final six points to take the second set 25-23 to even the match.The Lady Raiders took control of the third set early to pull out to a 21-11 lead.Southwestern could never get closer than five the rest of the way and fell 25-20.The Lady Warriors started out much stronger in the fourth set and eventually built an 18-8 lead and never let McCreary Central get closer than eight the rest of the way and evened the match at 2-2 with a 25-16 win.In the deciding fifth set, the Lady Raiders regrouped and came out strong.Southwestern led 2-1 before McCreary Central reeled off seven straight points to pull out to an 8-2 lead.It was 14-7 before the Lady Warriors made one last push.A kill by Hudson, a service ace and back-to-back kills by Madison Bland and Amelia Frey got Southwestern to within 14-11.But McCreary’s Kahlei Clark finished off the set with a kill to give the Lady Raiders the 3-2 victory, eliminating Southwestern from regional tournament contention.Southwestern concludes their season with a record of 15-11. Best of luck to seniors Addison Whitaker, Madison Bland, Sarah-Jane Brisley, Andrea West and Addison Baldwin on all of their future endeavors.