Three-Peat Lady Lions
Boyd County Returns to State
James Collier
Ashland Beacon
16th REGION VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP
BOYD COUNTY 3 ASHLAND 0
Boyd County wanted a to make a statement in the 16th Region Volleyball Championship against district foe Ashland.
The Lady Lions certainly achieved that mark with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-8, 25-22) sweep of the Volleycats Thursday night at Bath County High School and their third consecutive regional crown. Taylor Bartrum paced the Lions with 15 kills. Audrey Biggs was huge at the net with 12 blocks. Baylee Moore had 11 kills.
Boyd County opened a 6-0 lead to start the match and never looked back in the Lions fifth consecutive straight sets victory, all coming in the postseason.
The Volleycats jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second set but it was all Boyd County the rest of the way as the Lady Lions took the set 25-8.
Ashland finished the season at 30-9.
Boyd County played host to Johnson Central Monday night in the opening round of the Kentucky High School Volleyball Tournament. Pictures and a recap of the tournament will be in the next edition of the Greater Ashland Beacon.
SEMIFINALS
BOYD COUNTY 3 ROWAN COUNTY 0
Boyd County got pushed to the limit in the opening set against Rowan County Wednesday night but the Lady Lions were able to starve off the upset minded Valkyries with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-15, 25-16) win. Boyd County had to battle through the first set challenge from Rowan but had full control of the match the rest of the way.
Audrey Biggs had 18 kills and six blocks in the win. Taylor Bartrum added 12 kills.
ASHLAND 3 RUSSELL 0
Ashland volleyed back-and-forth with Russell in the opening set but once the Volleycats found their footing, they pulled away for a 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-19) win over the Red Devils. Khia Robinson and Olivia Wiley had 12 kills. Olivia Hutchinson added seven.
Josie Collins, Carmin Corey and Kennedy Darnell each finished with six kills in the loss. Darnell added five blocks.
Russell closes its season at 16-13.
QUARTERFINALS
BOYD COUNTY 3 RACELAND 0
Taylor Bartrum was simply too much for Raceland to slow down. The senior launched 21 kills to give Boyd County a 3-0 (25-7, 25-13, 25-18) win over the Rams. Audrey Biggs had eight kills and four blocks.
Gracie Reed led the Rams with six kills. Kaylee Braden had five.
Raceland closes its season at 19-13.
ASHLAND 3 FLEMING COUNTY 0
Ashland made quick work of Fleming County with a straight sets win (25-16, 25-8, 25-15).
Khia Robinson paced the Volleycats with 13 kills.
RUSSELL 3 WEST CARTER 0
Russell withstood an early surge from West Carter to earn a 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-7) win over the Comets.
Josie Collins led the Devils with eight kills. Jaycee Hall and Carmin Corey had seven. Corey added six blocks. Collins had six aces.