PREP VOLLEYBALL: Elizabethtown holds off North Hardin in three sets (08/22)

By NATHANIEL BRYAN nbryan@thenewsenterprise.com RADCLIFF — Players on the Elizabethtown volleyball team admit they have a hard time closing out matches, but Mary Beth Russell and the rest of the Lady Panthers have a nice long weekend ahead of them to think about that lingering problem. A freshman outside/middle hitter, Russell came up with the final of her five kills late in the match to help visiting Elizabethtown hold off 15th District rival North Hardin, 25-9, 14-25, 26-24. Second-year Elizabethtown coach Tim Hinkle was so pleased with the play of his Lady Panthers that he gave them today off from practice. “I don’t remember the last time we had a Friday off, but I’m already getting excited thinking about it,” said Elizabethtown sophomore libero Tyra Hart. The end of the match proved to be quite exciting, even though the first two sets lacked. After falling behind 3-1 in the decisive set, Elizabethtown (3-1 overall, 2-0 district) never trailed again after a 5-1 run. However, there were three ties in the final seven points. “I was shaking I was so nervous, but I was trying to calm everyone down,” Hart said. Elizabethtown broke a 12-12 third-set tie with a 6-1 run fueled by a pair of aces from junior middle hitter Katie Meek – who was 12-for-12 from the service line – but Elizabethtown committed several attack errors down the stretch as North Hardin pulled even at 22-all. The Lady Panthers scored the first four points of the match and closed the first set with an 11-3 run. Trailing 9-7 in the second set, North Hardin bounced back with a 10-0 run that saw Hinkle use both of his allowed timeouts. After Elizabethtown scored two of the next three points, North Hardin scored the next six points to set up game point. “After the first game, I was happy with the way they fought and came back to take it to three,” said first-year North Hardin coach Katrina Johnson, an Elizabethtown graduate. “They were very determined. They knew this was a big game for me and I think that helped fire them up.” Junior reserve outside hitter/setter Brooke Simmons had 16 assists, three aces, one block and one kill to lead North Hardin, while senior outside hitter Callie Thomas had seven kills and two digs and junior outside hitter Jessie Shartzer and senior middle hitter Tylar Merritt had four kills each. North Hardin fell to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in the five-team district, but the Lady Trojans’ record is a bit deceiving. They fell in three games to LaRue County and took both of last year’s 5th Region Tournament finalists, champion Elizabethtown and runner-up Central Hardin, to three sets. “I think the most frustrating thing is that we’re playing so hard and so well and it’s just not clicking yet,” Johnson said. “We’re playing so well and just not getting wins.” Elizabethtown, which has dropped the second set in its last four three-game matches, was led by 14 assists and two kills from junior setter Kelly Morgan. Russell also had five assists, while sophomore outside Brittany Daniel had five kills. Like Hart, Russell has a tough time remembering Elizabethtown’s last Friday off. “I’m glad we have the day off. It’s our first Friday off in a while,” she said. “I think we deserve it, but as soon as Monday comes, we need to get right back to work.” Elizabethtown won the junior varsity match in three sets and the freshman match in two. UP NEXT: Elizabethtown and North Hardin both play in the Louisville Iroquois First Spike Classic on Saturday at the Ohio Valley Volleyball Center. Nathaniel Bryan can be reached at 505-1758