Lady 'Cats win in five sets over West Union

     MOWRYSTOWN – The Whiteoak Lady Wildcats never quit and it paid off Thursday night at Whiteoak High School, as they battled Southern Hills League counterpart West Union to a five-set win, taking the fifth and game-deciding set in dominating fashion at 15-3.

    “Our girls are great kids. They work hard, put in the hours and that makes the difference,” Whiteoak coach Don Rahe said. “Our kids want to win badly and when they hit the floor, they go after it.”

     The Lady ’Cats went after 'it' against the Lady Dragons, winning sets one, three and five by scores of 25-21, 25-21 and 15-3. West Union won by scores of 25-19 and 25-15.

     In the fifth set it was all Lady ’Cats, taking a 2-1 lead with a serve by junior Kari Fannin, followed with a 3-2 score after junior Jessica Caplinger controlled the net for WHS. Sophomore Brooke Burns increased the WHS lead to two points with a hard block at the front of the net.

     The score went to 6-2 in the Lady ’Cats’ favor with a hit by senior Sarah Smith and later 9-3 after three straight points by Burns.

     WHS senior Desiree Green kept the next point alive after making a timely diving save, allowing WHS to add to their lead at 10-3. Serves by Smith, and another block by Burns, sealed the win for WHS.

     “We have had such an incredible turnaround since last season,” Rahe said. “I credit the team from last year for laying the foundation for this year. Give the credit to all the girls, as this program has come a long way.”

     In the first set on the night, West Union jumped out to a 5-3 lead, but the play by Burns and Caplinger at the top of the net allowed WHS to take the lead at 10-9. Smith increased the WHS advantage to 13-9 with three excellent serves.

     West Union tied the set at 13, then took a four-point advantage. WHS junior Jessica Jones helped bring the Lady ’Cats closer with a serve bouncing off a Lady Dragon player, followed with a spike by sophomore Jessie Gilliland, bringing WHS within one-point at 17-16.

     But toward the end of the set West Union took control, winning 25-21. The set was tied four times.

     WHS then took the next two sets, tying the second set at three with a point from Fannin. The set continued to go back-and-forth, being tied a total of 11 times.

     Gilliland gave WHS a 15-11 lead with an ace, but the game would be tied again at 15, 16, 17 and 18 points.

     WHS regained the lead at 19-18 with a forceful point from Burns. Two consecutive aces by Smith gave WHS a 21-18 lead, eventually winning the set 25-19 to tie the match.

     In set three, WHS led 4-1 after a serve by junior Brittany Tolliver. Tolliver added another ace to make the score 6-1. The next five Lady ’Cat points were tallied by Burns, giving WHS a 13-5 lead.

     WHS made the score 16-7 with points by Caplinger and Gilliland. Another ace by Tolliver later in the set gave Whiteoak a 19-11 lead.

     A tip by Smith put WHS in the lead at 24-19, with the Lady 'Cats winning 25-21.

     WHS started off strong in the fourth set with Gilliland recording three consecutive aces, but it wasn’t enough as West Union won the set 25-15.

     The win puts the Whiteoak volleyball team at 12-4 overall, 7-1 in the SHL.

      WHS will play again Monday as they will travel to play county counterpart Lynchburg-Clay in the 'Volley for a Cure' game at LCHS. The JV game will start at 5:30 p.m.