Ali Young and the Lady Pioneers couldn’t pull through after building a two-set advantage Tuesday in Wilson Central. Picture from a prior home match.
Sometimes the only way out of a skid is to steer right into it.
Things aren't going right for the Lady Pioneers, and Tuesday night was another example of a team capable of playing its best volleyball for long stretches, only to see it disappear before the job was finished.
Warren County looked ready to steer itself out of trouble at Wilson Central, winning the first two sets 25-19 and 25-22 and moving within two points of a sweep in the third. Instead, the Lady Wildcats survived 25-23 and completely flipped the match, dominating the fourth 25-5 and the fifth 15-6 to hand Warren County a crushing 3-2 district loss.
The loss dropped Warren County to 6-10 overall and 3-5 in District 7-AAA. It was the Lady Pioneers' fourth straight district loss and third straight overall.
“I don’t know that I have an answer for what happened,” said coach Erin Blalock. “I know we just stopped doing the things that were working.”
There was a little payback involved for Wilson Central too.
Nearly a month earlier, the Lady Wildcats had walked out of a rowdy Charlie Dalton Gym with a four-set loss in Warren County's home opener. The Lady Pioneers won 25-18, 22-25, 25-20 and 27-25 that night in front of a packed crowd that Blalock described afterward as “electric.”
Tuesday was Wilson Central's chance to return the favor on its home floor. For two sets, it looked like Warren County might spoil the rematch too.
Early on, there wasn't much the Lady Pioneers needed to change.
Warren County moved with confidence. Passes were on point, sets were clean and the offense was able to establish itself. When the Lady Pioneers operated in rhythm, Sloan Youngblood and Aubrey Oleksik could get going on the outside and Warren County consistently found ways to run its offense instead of simply reacting to Wilson Central.
Oleksik ultimately led the Lady Pioneers with seven kills, while Youngblood added six.
Even when Wilson Central started fighting back in the third, the Lady Pioneers stayed within striking distance of ending the night in straight sets.
Warren County got to 23, but couldn't find the final two points it needed. Wilson Central survived and suddenly had life. Then the skid within the skid started, and things went completely off the rails for the Lady Pioneers.
Everything Warren County had done cleanly early became harder to find in the fourth. Passes weren't leading as consistently into the offense, the Lady Pioneers couldn't establish their hitters in the same way and Wilson Central kept piling on points. The result in the fourth set turned out to be the worst set defeat Warren County has suffered all season.
It was also about the worst possible time for the Lady Pioneers to endure such a lopsided set. There was no extended break to regroup with a make-or-break race to 15 coming immediately. And, by then, Wilson Central had stolen all the momentum in the gym.
The Lady Wildcats carried it straight into the deciding set, quickly putting Warren County in another hole and running away with victory and some revenge after Warren County took the first matchup between the teams in four sets in its home opener three weeks ago.
It continued a troubling trend where Warren County finds its rhythm for moments, but not in the closing moments. The Lady Pioneers dominated a set against unbeaten Lebanon two weeks ago and were within two points of taking a pivotal third set in that match, turned around and lost the final two sets of a four-set slugfest against Stewarts Creek 28-26 and 25-23 the next night and then also had a 9-6 lead in the fifth in Sparta - along with a 2-1 set lead going into the fourth set - before falling.
The Lady Pioneers did get production from several of their usual contributors. Oleksik paired her team-high seven kills with seven digs, while Youngblood finished with six kills and nine digs. Natalie Payne had three kills, while Brynlee Chisam and Caroline Boyd added two apiece.
Ali Young led the back-line defense with 10 digs. Maelee Turner handed out 10 assists and Reese Reinitz added seven, while Oleksik, Reinitz and Turner each had an ace. Chisam and Elliana Heintz recorded one block apiece.
Now the Lady Pioneers have to find a way to keep it going when things start sliding in the other direction. The next chances to steer things back on the right path come later this week. Warren County travels to LaVergne Thursday before returning to Charlie Dalton Gym to host Van Buren County Friday at 1:30 p.m.
JV continues to roll
While varsity is trying to find a way to finish, Warren County's JV squad continues to do exactly that.
The Lady Pioneers swept Wilson Central 25-23 and 25-20 Tuesday, closing out two competitive sets and continuing a run of strong play that has Blalock encouraged.
“The JV team won in straight sets. They were able to finish those tough sets and never gave up on the ball,” said Blalock. “Those girls are playing really well right now and it’s extremely encouraging to watch.”
Caroline Boyd made an impact all over the court with five aces, four kills and three digs. McKenzie Hillis led Warren County with five kills, while Tenlee Medley, the lone freshman on the team, added four kills.
Kate Williams led the defense with nine digs and Ella Wells added eight. Jenna Mullins finished with four digs and two aces, while Alyssa Boyle directed the offense with nine assists.
“I do want to commend the JV squad,” said Blalock. “They have been taking advantage of opportunities they have on the court and are playing good ball right now. We have upperclassmen that are really stepping up and leading on the court, and a few younger girls who are taking every opportunity to improve their game. And they seem to be having fun while they are doing it. It’s fun to watch, for sure.”
