Last week, the Lady Marshals won their fourth consecutive 4th District title to advance to the Region 1 Tournament this week at McCracken County High School. Monday, they played 3rd District runner-up Mayfield (28-7), a team they lost to twice during the regular season.
The Lady Marshals fell to Mayfield 3-1 (16-25, 25-20, 16-25, 20-25) and it will be the Lady Cardinals who advance to the Region 1 semi-finals against McCracken County who defeated Carlisle County in the second game on Monday.
In set one, Mayfield went up 9-2 and were zoned in on blocking nearly every Lady Marshals kill attempt. Three straight points behind serves by Ayla Holt drew the Lady Marshals to within five points at 15-10 and they cut it to three at 17-14 on a kill by Sarah Bremmerkamp.
A service ace from Hadley Barret kept the Lady Marshals within four points at 20-16 but Mayfield finished out the next five points, getting three straight kills from Avery Nanney to win set one 25-16.
In set two, the Lady Marshals built on an early lead and put together a 6-0 run behind the serving of Emma Reynolds to lead 11-4. Mayfield cut the lead to four points at 18-14 on a kill by Nanney but it was stretched back out on a kill and tip by Bremmerkamp that put the Lady Marshals up 23-15. They evened the match up at 1-1 on a final point made by Leigha McVickers to take set two 25-20.
After trailing 4-1 to open set three, a kill by Olivia Hawkins and point on a serve by Bremmerkamp, the Lady Marshals tied it up at 5-5. A kill by Kylie Merrick gave them their first lead of the set at 6-5 and they built on that lead to go up 10-6 before Mayfield put together a 5-0 run to take the lead.
The Lady Cardinals finished out set three outscoring the Lady Marshals 14-4 to take set three 25-16 and a 2-1 lead in the match.
Marshall County trailed in set four until tying it up at 8-8. They took their first lead at 13-12 and the set remained close until two straight kills from Nanney put Mayfield up by three at 18-15. A kill from Abby Belcher closed the lead to one at 19-18 but Mayfield would close it out on a 6-2 run to take set four 25-20 and the match 3-1.
The Lady Marshals 2023 season ends with a record of 9-15.
Three talented seniors played their final game and will leave big holes to fill for next season. The seniors are Sarah Bremmerkamp, Abby Belcher and Leigha McVickers.
