When the end came, it came quickly.
The Logan County Lady Cougars' reign as regional volleyball champion is over. So is the program's streak of having reached the regional finals every
year since 2003.
On Thursday, Oct. 22, Greenwood's Lady Cougars beat Logan 25-12, 25-18 in the regional semifinals, played for the first time in the LCHS volleyball
gym,
Greenwood, which faced the Lady Cougars in five of those six championship matches, not only returned to the finals for the sixth straight season but
also won for the fifth time in those six tries, knocking off fellow 14th District team Bowling Greeen easily in the championship match later that
night.
Logan's losing to the Lady Gators was not unexpected. Greenwood had already won the first three meetings of the region's two best programs during the
2009 season. In fact, the season ended the way it began with Greenwood beating Logan in straight games at LCHS. The second meeting came on Sept. 19 in
the Greenwood Invitational by a 25-18, 25-15 count. Six days again they played a regular season match on the same court with the Lady Gators winning 15
& 15.
Also adding to the likelihood of a Logan loss was the lack of experience the Lady Cougars brought into the tournament. Although they had played a tough
schedule all seson, most of those who played key roles this year were not on the court during the 2008 regional and state tournaments.
Kelly Miller was the only returning starter from that team when tournament time rolled around. Junior Hannah Hudnall had been an integral part of both
teams, but she suffered a serious knee injury in a tournament in Louisville the final weekend of this regular season. She watched the tournaments on
crutches on the sideline, protecting her surgically repaired limb.
Joining Miller in the starting lineup were Chelsea Cartas, Jessica Anderson, Rebecca Dezarn, Kate Brooks, Jennifer Bryant and Taylor Oates.
Logan led twice in the opening game. Oates fired an ace to start the match, as her serve grazed the net and landed untouched. The other lead came at
6-5 on Bryant's serve. In between Logan had tied it at 4-4 on consecutive blocks by Bryant and Anderson.
Greenwood scored 20 of the game's final 26 points. Anderson had two near-kills in the last couuple of points. One was dug out and the other was ruled
to have come when a Lady Cougar was too far under the net.
The first 20 points of the second game were closely contested. The score was tied six times, the last at 10-10. Along the way, Cartas served an ace,
Bryant hit a winner on a set by Brooks, and Bryant's attack made it 10-9 after a dramatic dig by Miller.
Greenwood scored six of the next seven points to go up 15-11. Bryant had a kill and a save, but GHS kept adding to the lead.
The Lady Gators' margin went to 24-16, but Anderson and Oates made big plays to keep the season alive before Greenwood put the match away.
Breanna Whitaker saw extended action for the home team. Other reserves were Jessica Britton, Megan Griggs, Brittany Harper, Kaitlyn Howard, Shannon
MacAllister and Elizabeth Motsinger.
Miller and Brooks were named to the all-regional team.
Greenwood (36-9) beat BGH 25-15, 25-11 in the finals and will meet Louisville Sacred Heart in the state tournament at Northern Kentucky University
Friday.
The Lady Gators' win was part of one of the best week's in Greenwood High's sports history. GHS team also won regionals in both girls and boys soccer.
The Gator football team ran its record to 7-2 and won its Class 6A district championship.
The Lady Cougars' season ended with a 24-13 record. Streaks that remained alive were seven straight district championships, 55 consecutive wins over
district opponents, and reaching at least the regional semifinals for nine straight seasons.
The lady Cougars were coached, as always, by Tina Lynch, Steven Lyne, Rob Imlay, Buddy Wright and James Imlay.
Many of the players will soon begin playing on an Allensville-based travel squad.