Logan Elm started strong as the defending state qualifiers had the early edge over a Kenton Ridge team that made its last regional appearance three years ago.
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“We were nervous, the JV coach and I both saw that the girls were not themselves,” Kenton Ridge coach Angie Arthur said.
Arthur didn’t have to say much after the first set as her players did the talking, finishing the huddle with ‘we’re good now.”
And they were. The Braves one-set advantage was short-lived as the Cougars took control of the second set, building a solid 17-10 lead. Logan Elm would cut the deficit but never snag the lead as it was tied 1-1 after two sets.
The third set was much of the same as Kenton Ridge took an early 2-1 lead and never trailed. Senior outside hitter Peyton Fleming came up big late in the third set with the final two Cougars kills and helping Kenton Ridge take a 2-1 lead. Fleming finished the night with a team-leading 17 kills.
But the Braves battled in a must-win fourth set, serving for the set at 24-23 but the Cougars countered with a kill by Fleming to even it at 24-24. A Braves error and a kill by Kenton Ridge libero Dakota White capped the win for the Cougars.
“This is so big,” Fleming said. “I was here my freshman year but I didn’t get to play. This is really uncharted territory for us.”
Fleming wasn’t the only one to come up big for the Cougars on Thursday as junior opposite-side hitter Mikala Morris added 16 kills and setter Lexee Trainer finished with 45 assists.
“Mikala and Mallory have been our 1-2 most of the season,” Arthur said. “They’re our two big guns.”
The Cougars, 24-3, will need all the firepower they can muster as they will face a familiar foe in the regional final Saturday in Alter. The Knights, 20-6, battled to beat Fenwick, 23-25, 19-25, 26-24, 25-18, 15-7 in the nightcap Thursday. The Cougars and Knights last met three years ago in the regional final with Alter advancing to the state tournament.
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