Loretto Tops Summertown 3-1 for District 11 Title
The Loretto Lady Mustangs are District 11 champions.
Loretto capped its district tournament run Tuesday night with a 3-1 victory over rival Summertown, claiming the District 11 championship and the district’s No. 1 seed heading into region tournament play.
The Lady Mustangs reached the championship match after sweeping Perry County 3-0 in the opening round and defeating Lewis County 3-1 in the semifinals. Summertown advanced through Collinwood to set up another postseason meeting between two of Lawrence County’s longtime volleyball rivals.
The championship match lived up to the rivalry, featuring long rallies, strong defensive play and several momentum swings before Loretto ultimately pulled away.
Loretto took the opening set 25-22. The Lady Mustangs built a late advantage, but Summertown refused to go away and trimmed the lead to 24-22. Haylee Bennett then finished the set with a kill to put Loretto ahead 1-0 in the match.
Summertown came out strong in the second set and built a 14-9 advantage before the Lady Mustangs began working their way back.
Loretto eventually pulled even at 15 and took control from there. Ava Sharpe caused problems from the service line as the Lady Mustangs turned a close set into a 20-16 advantage. Summertown continued to battle, but Loretto stayed in front down the stretch and took the second set 25-21.
With their season on the line, the Lady Eagles responded in the third.
After the teams traded points early, Summertown put together its best run of the match and opened a 17-10 lead. The Lady Eagles continued to control the set and eventually forced a fourth with a 25-19 victory.
The fourth set began much like the rest of the night, with neither team able to create much separation.
Summertown led 3-1 early before Loretto answered, and the teams continued trading points through the middle portion of the set. The turning point came when Sharpe stepped to the service line and helped the Lady Mustangs put together the run they had been searching for.
A set that had been going point-for-point quickly swung in Loretto’s favor.
Sharpe’s serving made it difficult for Summertown to get into its offense, while the Lady Mustangs continued getting contributions throughout the lineup. Shanna Fisher was especially effective down the stretch, finding openings at the net and providing steady play in the back row throughout the match.
Francesca Folli, Bennett, Lilly Augustin and Jules Melton were among the other Lady Mustangs who delivered important attacks and blocks as Loretto began to pull away.
Fisher’s play was a major factor throughout the championship. She repeatedly produced kills when Loretto needed them and was equally valuable defensively, turning Summertown serves into playable passes that allowed the Lady Mustangs to run their offense.
Sharpe also made one of the biggest impacts of the night. Her serving created problems for Summertown in multiple sets, and it was her extended service run in the fourth that helped Loretto finally create significant separation.
With match point on the line, Summertown kept the final rally alive, but Loretto finished the night at the net. Melton came up with the championship-clinching block, touching off the celebration as the Lady Mustangs secured the 3-1 victory.
The win completed a three-match district tournament run on Loretto’s home floor and gave the Lady Mustangs another District 11 championship.
Fisher was recognized as Loretto’s player of the game following the match after making an impact both offensively and defensively. Sharpe also drew praise for a serving performance that repeatedly shifted momentum in Loretto’s favor.
The Lady Mustangs now advance to region tournament play as the District 11 No. 1 seed, where they will face the No. 2 seed from the opposing district.
For Loretto, the district championship is another step in a postseason run the Lady Mustangs hope is far from finished.
Beyond the final score
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