Going up against the 7-time First Region Champions in the semi-finals is a tall order, one the Lady Marshals faced head-on, but a 3-0 win by McCracken County puts them in the championship game on Thursday against Paducah Tilghman and a chance to go for an eighth straight region title. It will be just the third time the Lady Tornados have appeared in the championship game of the regional tournament.
In the first set, the Lady Marshals led 4-3 following a kill by Halle Langhi and block by Alyssa McClain. Tied at 5-5, a kill by Jenna Henshaw put the Lady Mustangs in the lead, one they held the remainder of the set. They led by eight at 16-8 following an ace from Piper Mullinax and went on to take set one 25-15.
Bradley opened set two with a kill and Langhi followed it up with a second for a 2-1 early lead. Another kill by Langhi put the Lady Marshals up 4-1 before McCracken County tied it up a 4-4. Tied 7-7, the Lady Mustangs went on to out-score the Lady Marshals 18-4 behind two aces from Drew Mullinax, an ace by Henshaw and kills from Adele Mavigliano and Caroline Sivills to take set two 25-11.
In set three, Ashley Bremmerkamp’s serves led to a 3-2 lead for the Lady Marshals but McCracken County rattled off seven un-answered points to lead 9-3. The lead grew to 23-8 with both sides subbing out their starters and the Lady Marshals proceeded to score the next five points to trail 23-13 before the Lady Mustangs scored the final two they needed to complete the three set win 25-13.
The Lady Marshals finish the 2020 season with a 13-6 record, won their first district championship since the 2016 season as well as their first appearance in the regional tournament semi-finals since 2016.
Eight seniors played their final game for the Lady Marshals – Clara Bradley, Peyton Gresham, Abigail Joiner, Anley Jones, Tori McCracken, Bailey Pritchett, Madison Rhodes and Mary Grace Thompson.
