The Paintsville Lady Tigers made history on Saturday by beating Covington Holy Cross Indians in the Kentucky All A Classic state volleyball championship at Eastern Kentucky University.
Paintsville (24-2) won six matches in a 24-hour span to capture the crown. In fact, the Lady Tigers won 12-of-13 sets against some of the best competition that the Bluegrass has to offer. It was only the second time that a public school has won the All A Classic in volleyball.
The Lady Tigers knocked off Wolfe County, Williamsburg and Presentation in pool play. Paintsville then beat Bethlehem in the quaterfinals, 2-0 (25-19, 25-21) and Community Christian in the semifinals, 2-0 (25-17, 25-13).
Paintsville dropped the first set to Holy Cross before rallying late in the second set and earning the championship in the final set, 2-1 (17-25, 26-24, 25-18), to bring the title home to the 15th Region.
Blair Ratliff had 14 kills and 7 blocks for the Lady Tigers. Bella Blackburn added 30 assists, 10 digs and 3 aces. Kynzie Slone and Kara Ward each registered 14 digs.
Ratliff earned the tournament’s MVP honors. Slone, Ward and Blackburn earned spots on the All-Tournament Team.
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