HIGHLAND HEIGHTS – With Katie Dingus and Leigh Williams leading the way, Allen Central lost its first match at the KHSAA State Volleyball Tournament Friday at Northern Kentucky University. Allen Central, however, didn’t come away from the state event empty-handed. Southwestern defeated Allen Central 2-1, prevailing 25-23, 18-25, 25-12. KHSAA officials confirmed that Allen Central was the first 15th Region volleyball team to win a set during a State Tournament. It wasn’t the outcome Allen Central coach Colonel Larry Maynard wanted, but, still, it is another ‘first’ for the tradition-rich Allen Central program.

Southwestern (34-5) found holes in the Allen Central defense and took advantage of Rebel miscues. The Warriors, however, still needed three sets to put Allen Central away. Southwestern won the first game 25–23 but Allen Central battled back to take the second set 25–18. But the Allen Central defense crumbled in the third set.

“We made more errors in that set than we had made total in the District and Regional tournaments,” Maynard commented.

The Allen Central defense became disjointed. After Southwestern reeled off four consecutive points, Allen Central burned a timeout. The Rebels, however, couldn’t stop the Southwestern onslaught. Before the Rebs could get the serve back, Southwestern was on a nine-point run, never looking back, winning the third set 25–12 and winning the match.

Dingus, a freshman led Allen Central in the setback, finishing with seven kills on .538 hitting and two blocks in the loss.

“Katie performed very well at the net taking advantage of Southwestern’s passing errors and stopping their big hitters,” Maynard said.

Courtney Hodge, another talented freshman, slapped in six kills for the Rebels.

Senior Kelsey Jones added four kills, two service aces, one block and one block-assist. Junior Tiffany Burdzilauskas smacked in four kills and recorded a block assist. Junior libero Rebekah Potter and sophomore Kelsey Blevins each had one kill for the Rebels. Junior setter Leigh Williams ran the offense flawlessly 60 times and contributed 11 assists and a service ace. Senior Jaimie Mullins recorded five assists.

Defensively, Rebekah Potter led the Allen Central back row with eight digs in 44 return opportunities and stopped 89-percent. Hodge was credited with seven digs in 43 opportunities, stopping 88-percent. Jones recorded five digs in 38 opportunities and stopped 92-percent. Sophomore Julie Halbert dug up three in 20 opportunities and prevented 90-percent from landing.

Allen Central ended the season 30–10, ranking as the first 15th Region team to post 30 wins.

“This was a fantastic year for the Rebel volleyball program,” Maynard exclaimed. “We prepared hard during the season, made plays when they really counted, and I just cannot say enough about everyone’s contributions, support, and commitment from the players, the parents, the school, and Floyd County Schools.”