Highland Heights — The Southwestern Lady Warrior volleyball team added another milestone to their growing list of program achievements, as they won their opening round game against Allen Central and advanced to the club’s first-ever State Tournament ‘Elite Eight.’

The Lady Warriors had to hold off a scrappy Allen Central team 25-23, 18-25, 25-12 in the first round of the KHSAA State Volleyball Tournament at Norther Kentucky University’s Regents Hall.

“This has been a great group of girls,” Southwestern coach James Cox said. “They fought hard, they wanted to win, and they wanted to be playing on the last day of the state tournament. Reaching the ‘Elite Eight’ is a big step for us. Being among the last eight teams still playing is pretty special.”

Southwestern struggled in the opening game of the match after they trailed Allen Central 20-17. Two service aces by sophomore Kelsie Adams and two kills by senior Kelsey Roberts gave Southwestern a 24-23 lead. Cassie Thompson scored the game-winning kill with an assist from Amber Phelps.

“Our energy level wasn’t what it should be in that first game,” Cox said. “We are sort of one of those old-young teams. Our younger players like Erin Cottrell, Erika Napier and Kelsie Adams gave us some needed energy in that first set win.”

Southwestern struggled with their offense in game two as they made nine attack errors and three service errors in a 25-18 loss.

“We came out a little nervous and we tried to push things too much in the first two sets,” Cox said. “We started off slow, like we did last year in the state tournament. I think sometimes nerves and emotions get involved, and you end up doing things a little different than you normally would.”

Southwestern finally got their offense on track in the rubber game. Six kills by Roberts, three kills by Thompson and solo kills by Brittany Whitaker, Erin Cottrell and Erika Napier guided the Lady Warriors to a 25-12 game-three win.

“Our seniors really did a good job of pulling the girls back together after the second game loss,” Cox said. “The seniors told the other girls that we are not going to let up and we can do this. We played better in the third set because of senior leadership.”

Roberts led the Lady Warriors with 19 kills in the their win over Allen Central. Cottrell and Thompson added 5 kills apiece, while Whitaker recorded 2 kills. Rachel Floyd had a game-high 12 digs, while Amber Phelps led the game with 30 assists.

“Winning that first state tournament game was a big relief,” Amber Phelps said. “We knew we had it in us, it was just a matter of coming out and doing it.”

“I think it took awhile for the younger players to get use to the state tournament atmosphere, but the older players were also a little nervous too — knowing that this might be the last game we ever play.”

Southwestern’s first-round win put them on a collision course with one of the best teams in the state, and maybe the nation. Following the Lady Warriors’ win on Friday night, Louisville Sacred Heart had no problem handling their first round opponent,Greenwood in a 25-7, 25-12 win.

Sacred Heart finished as state runner-ups last season, they have the second most state tournament appearances (20) of any team in Kentucky, and they won the state title in 2003.

The 2009 version of the Sacred Heart volleyball team got to the state tournament by knocking off the state’s top-ranked Assumption, who was ranked 14th nationally by MaxPreps.

Despite Sacred Heart’s state tourney prestige and high rankings, the Lady Warriors came out firing by taking an early 5-2 lead with kill and a serving ace by Cottrell, and a kill by Whitaker. However, the Valkyries started to set up their powerful offensive hits en route to a 22 to 2 run, which put Sacred Heart at game point. The Lady Warriors prolonged the first game loss with a Roberts’ serving ace and two attack errors by Sacred Heart. However, a Southwestern service error gave Sacred Heart the first game win at 25-10.

Sacred Heart opened strong with a 11-3 lead in the second game. However, Southwestern kills by Thompson Cottrell and Napier pulled the Lady Warriors with seven points at 17-10.

Sacred Heart went on the offense to close out the match with a 25-12 game two win.

“We really battled all the way through the game,” Cox said. “Sacred Heart was the pre-season number one team in the nation — not just the state of Kentucky — but the entire nation. We battled and played with a lot of heart. I don’t want to lose, but today Sacred Heart was the better team and they proved that all year long.”

“It has been a very special season and we have went farther than anyone else in volleyball at Southwestern,” Cox concluded. “Our seniors have really set the bar high for future classes and they have done stuff that nobody in this school has ever done. On the other hand, the younger girls are ready to work on things and go practice some more right now.”

On those eager younger girls is freshman Erin Cottrell, who had two kills and six digs in the Lady Warriors’ season finale. Cottrell was a big part of the Southwestern offense this season, and will be looked upon to fill some of the shoes of the four departing seniors.

“This year has been a lot of fun and without the help of the seniors, this year would had not been as successful as it was,” Cottrell said. “We all worked hard and we did everything we could, and it showed today. Next year, we are going to keep on going farther and farther (in the state tournament).”

Southwestern ended the season with a 35-6 record, a second consecutive District 46 title, a second consecutive Region 12 title and a state tournament ‘Elite Eight’ finish.

Sacred Heart went on to a runner-up state tournament finish after falling to Mercy in the finals.