Trio of Lady Pioneers named all-district
Fallon Youngblood, Ellie Dixon and Lyvia Wilson were named to the all-district team for WCMS.
The Warren County Middle School volleyball season came to an end Thursday, but not before the Lady Pioneers showed one final time the fight that became a defining characteristic of their season.
WCMS battled through three straight nights of district tournament volleyball, surviving elimination once before ultimately seeing its season end with a loss to Algood Thursday.
The Lady Pioneers entered the loser's bracket after an agonizing three-set loss to Prescott Wednesday. Warren County was overwhelmed 25-9 in the opening set before completely changing the match, battling back to win the second 25-20.
The deciding set couldn't have been much closer.
Warren County (15-9) pushed Prescott beyond the normal 15-point finish before ultimately falling 17-15, forcing the Lady Pioneers into an elimination match against Avery Trace right after the emotional battle with one of the area’s top teams.
Once again, WCMS had to come from behind.
Avery Trace took the opening set 25-21, putting Warren County one set away from the end of its season. The Lady Pioneers refused to let it happen, responding with a 25-22 victory to force a third set.
With the season hanging on every point, Warren County found a way.
The Lady Pioneers outlasted Avery Trace 16-14, earning another night together and another opportunity to fight through the loser's bracket.
The run finally ended Thursday against Algood, closing a season that saw WCMS make significant strides in coach Bethany Mesaros' second year leading the program.
"I am so incredibly proud of how the girls have grown over the season and fought through the tournament," said Mesaros. "I am sad to see our eighth graders go, but am excited to see their journey into high school."
Three of those Lady Pioneers also finished the season with all-district recognition.
Fallon Youngblood, Ellie Dixon and Lyvia Wilson were each named to the all-district team after serving as three of Warren County's most consistent contributors throughout the year.
Youngblood became the engine of the WCMS offense, regularly leading the Lady Pioneers in assists while also developing into a threat from the service line and at the net. Her versatility was on full display in Warren County's district tournament opener against Stone Memorial when she led the team in aces, assists and kills.
Dixon established herself as Warren County's biggest attacking threat, routinely providing some of the hardest swings on the court while also developing into a presence defensively at the net.
Wilson became the anchor of the Lady Pioneer back row. Whether it required diving across the floor or chasing a ball seemingly out of reach, the WCMS libero built her season around keeping rallies alive.
Together, the three helped lead a Lady Pioneer team that piled up 15 wins, battled some of the area's established volleyball programs and, right until the final night, continued finding ways to extend its season.
