FRANKFORT, Ky. – Volleyball closed out the Kentucky State Tournament today, starting with a four-set loss to Young Harris 1-3 but ending on a positive note with a 3-1 four-set victory over hosts Kentucky State.
 
MATCH ONE: Young Harris 3-1 Kentucky Wesleyan (21-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-21)
SET ONE: Young Harris 21-25 Kentucky Wesleyan
Kentucky Wesleyan jumped out to a 7-0 lead to start the match, using kills from Hadley Wolfe, Emmy Goering and Abigail Butterworth along with an ace from Gracie Lewis to quickly build its advantage. Young Harris eventually cut the deficit to four, but the Panthers continued to answer and held a 16-9 lead midway through the set. The Mountain Lions made a late push, pulling within two at 23-21, but a kill from Goering and an attack error from Young Harris allowed KWC to close out the set 25-21.

SET TWO: Young Harris 25-23 Kentucky Wesleyan
Young Harris responded early in the second set, overcoming another quick start from the Panthers to take a 6-5 lead. The teams continued to trade points throughout the frame, with the score tied at 13-13 before the Mountain Lions built a 17-14 advantage. Kentucky Wesleyan battled back and eventually tied the set at 20-20, then used a pair of service aces from Marcela Fernandes to move ahead 23-21. Young Harris answered with three straight points, however, and took the set 25-23 to even the match.

SET THREE: Young Harris 25-20 Kentucky Wesleyan
The Mountain Lions carried their momentum into the third set, scoring the first three points and opening an 8-3 lead. Young Harris continued to control the set, extending its advantage to 12-4 before Kentucky Wesleyan began to chip away. The Panthers pulled within two at 16-14 after three consecutive points, but Young Harris responded with a 5-1 run to regain control. KWC made another late push, cutting the deficit to 23-19, but the Mountain Lions scored the final two points to take the set 25-20 and move ahead 2-1.

SET FOUR: Young Harris 25-21 Kentucky Wesleyan
Kentucky Wesleyan took an early 4-3 lead in the fourth set before Young Harris answered with a 6-1 run to go ahead 9-5. The Panthers battled back and eventually turned a 9-5 deficit into a 10-9 lead after scoring five straight points. The teams traded leads again before Young Harris broke away late, using a 5-0 stretch to take a 21-17 advantage. Kentucky Wesleyan cut the deficit to 23-20 behind an ace from Fernandes and a kill from Thomas, but Young Harris scored two of the final three points to close out the set 25-21 and secure the match.

 
MATCH TWO: Kentucky Wesleyan 3-1 Kentucky State
SET ONE: Kentucky Wesleyan 25-22 Kentucky State
Kentucky Wesleyan took an early 4-1 lead before Kentucky State responded to make it a competitive set. The Panthers maintained a small advantage through the middle of the frame, but the Thorobreds eventually pulled even at 15-15 and moved ahead 18-16. KWC answered with a pair of points to tie the set again, then used a 4-0 run late to take a 23-21 lead. After Kentucky State cut the deficit to two, Wolfe closed out the set with a kill to give the Panthers a 25-22 victory.

SET TWO: Kentucky Wesleyan 27-25 Kentucky State
The second set was tight from the start, with neither team able to create much separation. Kentucky State held a 9-8 lead before the Panthers responded with four straight points to move ahead 12-9. KWC extended its advantage to 16-12, but the Thorobreds fought back and eventually tied the set 24-24. Kentucky Wesleyan survived the late push, with a Wolfe kill putting the Panthers ahead 26-25 before Thomas and Goering combined to finish the set 27-25 and give KWC a 2-0 lead.

SET THREE: Kentucky Wesleyan 20-25 Kentucky State
Kentucky State came out strong in the third set, building a 7-4 lead before extending the advantage to 9-5. The Panthers fought back behind a pair of service aces from Fernandes, eventually tying the set at 9-9. The Thorobreds regained control, however, putting together another run to take a 13-9 lead and later extending it to 18-14. KWC remained within reach late, but Kentucky State scored the final two points to take the set 25-20 and cut the Panthers' lead to 2-1.

SET FOUR: Kentucky Wesleyan 26-24 Kentucky State
Kentucky State opened the fourth set with an 11-4 advantage before Kentucky Wesleyan began to chip away. The Panthers used a 9-2 stretch to pull within one at 13-12, then continued to battle until tying the set at 16-16. KWC appeared to take control late, scoring six straight points behind three aces from Fernandes to move ahead 22-18. Kentucky State answered with six consecutive points of its own to take a 24-23 lead and put the match in danger. The Panthers responded, tying the set at 24-24 before a kill from Kami Parlin and a service ace from Ana De Sevilla-Acosta secured the 26-24 victory and the four-set win.

UP NEXT
Kentucky Wesleyan volleyball returns home to host the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational September 4-5 at the Woodward Health and Recreation Center.

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