SOSA Staff Report
FRANKFORT — There will be no Gold Ball this season in the SVC’s volleyball race.
Zane Trace made sure of that on Thursday evening.
The Pioneers (13-5, 9-3 SVC) handed state-ranked Adena a four-set loss by a 25-18, 25-21, 18-25, 26-24 final … avenging an earlier five-set loss to the Warriors.
“Well after losing at home to Adena in a very close five-set match that I felt we really just didn’t finish when we had the opportunity, I told he girls we had had to be more aggressive, move the ball around and swing on the ball,” Zane Trace coach Cyndi Davis said. “We have been in some really tight sets, but we just didn’t have the drive to finish.”
Davis’ crew certainly changed that narrative under the brightest of lights.
In the first set, the Pioneers used the service line to their advantage while Delaney Berry and Elizabeth Harber led the team to a 12-8 lead. That advantage swelled to 22-16 before they put away a 25-18 win.
Behind Lexi Scott, Zane Trace took a 6-3 lead in the second and after ties at 11, 12, 13 and 14, went ahead 18-14 late. Adena cut the deficit to 22-20 but the Pioneers pulled away, seizing a 25-21 victory and a 2-0 match lead.
Adena (16-1, 11-1 SVC) jabbed back in the third, using Camryn Carroll at the service line to take a late 22-17 lead and win its first set, 25-18.
But the Pioneers wouldn’t be denied in the fourth. After trailing 19-15, ZT ended the set on an 11-5 run to win it, 26-24.
“I told them we had to have the drive, desire, energy and intensity, and get out there and play our hearts out. They did that,” Davis said. “I thought they played awesome and they met every challenge I placed in front of them. I am extremely proud of them.”
Lexi Scott led the Pioneers with 14 kills while Alli Bennett added 10 kills, 13 digs and 16 assists. Hannah Hale also had 10 kills alongside six digs while Laynee Hill and Lexi Betts had 18 digs each. Gracey McCullough also contributed with eight kills and nine digs.
For Adena, Ellie Harper tallied 14 kills, Makenna Lovely had 13 kills and 18 digs, and Jenna Martin posted 12 kills. Ari DaRif finished with 18 assists and 12 digs, and Makaela Lovely had nine kills and 21 assists.