Heritage Christian Academy swept past Livingston Central Tuesday night 3-0 to advance to tonight’s Region 2 Volleyball Tournament semifinals. But the news wasn’t all good for the Lady Warriors, who may have lost one of its top players for the rest of the tournament.
Junior Katie Cansler was ruled out for Tuesday night’s game with Caldwell County after she was injured in the stands while watching the opening match of the night between Caldwell County and Henderson County. Cansler suffered a concussion when she fell and hit her head on the bleachers while retrieving an errant shot. Her status for tonight’s semifinals is unknown.
HCA coach Grace Stewart said her team has to stay focused about the game and not worry about things it can’t control.
Without Cansler in the lineup Tuesday, the Lady Warriors seemed a little out of sorts, although they survived a scrappy Livingston Central squad.
HCA led most of the first set on the way to a 25-18 win. However, the Lady Cardinals put up more of a fight in the second set, trailing only 22-19 late. Led by Grace Conley, the Lady Warriors eventually pulled away 25-20.
The final set was tied 11-11 before Makenzie McCarty’s two aces helped spark a 4-0 run. Heritage eventually pulled away for the 25-16 victory.
It was the first time in school history that the Lady Warriors won a Region 2 Volleyball Tournament game.
Stewart said it was part of her team’s goals when the season started.
Mya Goodwin led HCA with 17 kills and an ace and Conley had seven kills. Hadlee Hayes provided three kills and Allie Craft had four assists.
Tonight’s first semifinal game will feature District 6 champion Union County (15-7) against District 7 runner-up Christian County (13-18) at 5:30 p.m. The Bravettes have won six straight matches entering tonight’s semifinal. The two teams did not face each other in the regular season.
HCA (22-5) will meet Caldwell County (19-9), which held off Henderson County in five sets Tuesday night, at 7 p.m. The Warriors swept the Lady Tigers in their only match this season.
The championship match is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday.
Photos by Joe Wilson