COUGARS CLAIM THE WIG WAM: Somerset Christian takes down Southwestern in five-set classic

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Somerset Christian junior Emma Grace Warren (12) celebrates with her teammates after earning a point on a block during the Cougars' 3-2 victory over Southwestern on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024.

SOMERSET - It was just one of those games that you had to be there on Tuesday evening, as for the second time this season the Southwestern Warriors and Somerset Christian Lady Cougars collided on the volleyball court. With the Warriors taking the first meeting 3-1 and both coming off strong victories, who would the better team be at the Wig Wam on this night?

It looked like it could seriously be either team through the first four sets, but there was just a sort of magic in the air during the fifth set for the visitors, as they were able to successfully take down the Warriors for the second-straight season at the Wig Wam in a tight 3-2 victory (25-23, 14-25, 25-20, 20-25, 17-15).

Sara Tucker was on fire from the get-go, scoring four kills over the game's first eight serves as the Cougars stormed out of the gates with a 6-2 lead, forcing Southwestern head coach Mitzi Jones to call for a timeout. Somerset Christian kept up the pressure with another kill from Tucker as well as two kills from Catherine Hardy, although the Warriors were finally getting some solid hits in the set after kills from Megan Loudermilk, Brynn Troxell and Adison Black.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Southwestern senior Adison Black (24) spikes the ball past the block of Somerset Christian junior Emma Grace Warren (12) during the Warriors' loss to the Cougars on Tuesday.

The Cougars were ahead by seven points in the middle of the set and continued a torrid pace with kills from Tucker, Hardy and Sophia Barnett, increasing their lead to 18-11 and forcing a second timeout by the home team. Southwestern absolutely woke up after that though, scoring 10 of the next 12 points to grab their first lead of the evening at 21-20 following kills from Loudermilk, Andrea West and Chloe Mabe, as well as a pair of blocks from Halle Norvell and Loudermilk. Barnett took matters into her own hands with three straight kills, allowing the Cougars to regain the lead at 23-21. A big spike from Norvell brought the Warriors within one before a smart timeout by Cougar head coach LaDawna Tucker. Out of the break, the Warriors committed a set-ending attacking error to hand the first set to the visitors 25-23, with this close score being an omen of things to come.

Sara Tucker began the second set as she did the first, with a kill to ignite the Somerset Christian portion of the crowd. However, it was clear that the Warriors were much more focused coming into the set, with Adison Black beginning to hit at her normal rate seemingly turning the tide for the home team. Kills from Norvell and Black, as well as an ace from Aaliyah Lawler, put Southwestern up 17-10 midway through the set and forced coach Tucker to burn a timeout to regroup.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Somerset Christian sophomore Sara Tucker (left) attempts to get a hit past the blocks of Southwestern seniors Chloe Mabe (19) and Brynn Troxell (10) during the Cougars' contest against the Warriors on Tuesday evening.

That timeout did the Cougars no favors however, as the Warriors wanted to quickly get the set over with. Kills from West and Loudermilk plus a strong block from Norvell got Southwestern in a very favorable position late. It was ultimately attacking errors that did the visitors in though, as an error on the Cougars handed Southwestern the second set 25-14.

With that large victory looming, well, large, the Cougars knew they had to get the momentum in their favor and fast to begin play in the third set. They did just that after some kills from Tucker and a block from Emma Grace Warren, putting Somerset Christian on top 5-1 early. Following two more kills from Barnett and an ace from Callie Davis, coach Jones had seen enough and called for the break down 11-5. A combination of Norvell and Black up front gave the Cougars fits and midway through the set, the Warriors had trimmed their deficit down to just one point at 14-13.

After an ace from Ally Idlewine and another block from Warren, the Warriors were once again able to ride Black and Norvell on another scoring spree, with Somerset Christian needing to call for the timeout soon after. An ace from Reagan Childers forced the Warriors to follow suit down 23-20, before a second ace from Childers handed the visitors the set 25-20, putting themselves in prime position to take down the top team in the 12th Region in terms of RPI.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Southwestern seniors Aaliyah Lawler (left) and Adison Black (right) collide as they both attempt to save the ball during the contest between the Warriors and the Somerset Christian Lady Cougars on Tuesday.

However, the Warriors were not going to go gently into that good night, word to Dylan Thomas. Stellar play from Norvell and Loudermilk up front put Southwestern ahead early and after an ace from Loudermilk, the Cougars were forced to call a timeout. Somerset Christian soon made the Warriors do the same though, as kills from Barnett and Tucker made the score close at 15-11 midway through with the Cougars steadily gaining momentum.

The fifth set looked to be almost a lock after a kill from Loudermilk, a block from Norvell and an ace from Railey Housley, before two straight kills from Barnett made the Southwestern lead sit at 23-19 and coach Jones had seen enough, calling for a timeout. Barnett was able to snag one more kill before Mabe brought the set to an emphatic close with a kill, giving her team the 25-20 win and forcing a fifth set between the two rivals.

Tensions were ripe in the Wig Wam heading into the tie-breaking set, with members of both fan bases making their voices heard. A kill from Barnett was immediately followed by three kills over the next four volleys by Black, putting the Warriors up 4-2 early. A block followed by Black as she was beginning to take the game over, forcing coach Tucker to call a timeout to refocus her team. A few errors by the Warriors plus an ace from Idlewine later however, and the Warriors were now calling for a break down 8-6.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Members of the Somerset Christian fan base cheer on their team during the Cougars' victory over Southwestern at the Wig Wam on Tuesday.

After an attacking error put the Cougars on match point, Loudermilk was able to answer with a kill and a controversial lift was called on the visitors, tying things up at 14-14 with the next team to go up by two being declared the winners. A kill from Norvell brought the home team to match point, but Barnett answered immediately with a kill of her own, leveling things once again. You hate to see any team lose this type of special match, but ultimately the Warriors proved to be their own undoing as two straight attacking errors handed the Cougars their second-straight victory in the Wig Wam with a 17-15 fifth set win. For coach Tucker, she was beyond proud of the way her team played in the five-set marathon, and how they kept their faith in the center while doing so.

"Our team played phenomenal tonight. They went into the game mentally prepared with a winning attitude. I'm proud of them for keeping their Christian witness and playing to glorify the Lord above all," she explained.

Somerset Christian improves to 20-7 with the victory and they will be right back on the road for a rare Friday crosstown volleyball match against the Pulaski County Lady Maroons.

Southwestern falls to 21-8 and will be back at home against Wayne County on Thursday to conclude their home slate of regular season games, with the Warriors also set to honor their seniors before that contest.

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