The Whitley County Colonels are headed to the volleyball state tournament for the fifth consecutive year.
The Lady Colonels defeated the Lady Redhounds in the teams’ seventh consecutive region championship meeting.
While the Lady Redounds kept the first and second sets close, the Lady Colonels would pull away in the third to win three straight.
“You know, it’s amazing,” said Whitley County Head Coach David Halcomb. “We [have] a special group of kids and they work really, really hard on their game of volleyball all year.”
For Whitley County’s seniors, they have never known a year they did not make it to the state tournament.
“We talked about that a couple of weeks ago that, you know, our girls, they don’t know how it feels to not win a region championship,” said Halcomb. “[To] go out in their career that way is just phenomenal. They’re very deserving of every recognition that they get and to be able to have that experience.”
One of those seniors is setter Jonna Rice.
Rice reflected on Tuesday’s win saying, “It feels awesome. It’s great. I can’t describe it.”
Whitley County and Corbin have a long standing rivalry which is something Rice said isn’t going to change.
“Tonight was nothing short of the rival[ry],” said Rice. “They played us so close. [It was] a three set battle the whole time. They weren’t giving up. We weren’t giving up. Their program’s really good. You have to respect them, and I think we did, but we handled them also.”
State tournament run
The next game for the Lady Colonels is slated for Monday when they host the 14th region winner at home to open state tournament play.
“We hosted it my sophomore year. It was an atmosphere that again I can’t describe,” said Rice. “So loud, so many people, a little overwhelming, but a super exciting and fun time. I’m excited to host for senior year.”
Halcomb says for his team to make a deep run, “they just got to play confident, play with joy and love for one another. They have the skills to be able to do it. They just need to play with a lot of confidence.”
Rice agrees saying that skill is not what will help her team make a run for a state title.
“I don’t think it’s anything for skill. It’s all mentality.”
While we know that Whitley County will play Monday night, their opponent and what time the game will begin have not been released.
