After a back and forth affair earlier this season where UHA was able to go on the road and take three tight sets from Christian County, the rematch has been a date to look forward too.
Last night it finally came to pass.
Both teams had reason to be confident going in.
Seniors-
Emily Noland and Sha’Niyah Brodie
For the Blazers it was senior night, they had held a run through the school earlier celebrating their trip Friday to the All “A” Region tournament, and, of course, had defeated the Lady Colonels earlier in the year in straight sets in the midst of a brutal run of fourteen games in seventeen days.
All reasons to think this would go the way of UHA, and it did, but not how anyone probably expected.
You see, Christian County, as I said, also had reason to feel confident.
They had pushed the Blazers earlier this season. To the point that in set three of game one, we had to go to an extra point, 26-24 for UHA to win it.
The Lady Colonels also were coming off a win, just two days ago, to a Crittenden County program they had not defeated in several years, and they did so in dominant fashion.
As the game began, and throughout set number one, you saw both teams best and their not so best.
UHA started slow, and you wonder if the emotions of senior night and the send off were weighing heavy.
County put them in a 8-13 hole before the Blazers clawed their way back to squeak out a win in the set 25-23. At that point it seemed as if UHA would repeat history and while it might be close, sweep County.
Lady Colonels had something to say about that.
They started set two with the same fire they had at Crittenden, and this time they poured more gas on it.
Another 13-8 lead for County this time turned into a set two 25-17 victory and the building was alive.
Coaches were using their timeouts to try and fuel or direct their teams fiery energies. A UHA player received a yellow card, albeit probably undeservedly, and both fan bases were on their feet and letting the gym and refs hear them.
It was an environment we usually only associate with basketball games and it was beautiful.
All tied up at a set a piece, both teams gave the most valiant of efforts in set number three.
UHA built themselves an early lead, 20-12, before the Lady Colonels came out of a timeout once again with a lit fire and gave all they could, but came up short.
Blazers won set three 25-18, and then did what state title contenders do, kept their foot on the gas.
County had used all they had left in set three trying to mount that comeback, they were flat in set four.
A 25-13 win and a three sets to one win for UHA, the Blazers started the fourth set on a 7-0 run.
Both coaches after the game had, as to be expected, positives ands negatives to discuss about their respective squads.
UHA now goes on to compete in the All “A” Region tournament, while County looks forward to another rivalry game, this time against Hoptown on Saturday.
