Colonels silence Wolves, advance in KHSAA state volleyball tourney

On Monday, the 13th Region champion Whitley County Lady Colonels picked up their 35th win of the 2023 season, defeating Wolfe County 3-1 (27-25, 22-25, 25-17, 25-20) in the first round of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association State Volleyball Championship Tournament.

The Lady Colonels had to travel to Wolfe County for Monday’s game, which is the same situation they found themselves in for round one of 2022’s state championship tourney. When it was all said and done, the outcome was exactly the same as 12 months ago as Whitley advanced to the Elite Eight with a 3-1 victory.

After dispatching the 14th Region champs, the Lady Colonels now look ahead to this Friday, when they will travel to George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester to face the Region 7 champion Rockets of Assumption (Louisville).

The Rockets will present Whitley with their toughest task to-date this season, having won 33 games including victories over top-tier teams from all over the nation. Since August, they have secured victories over teams from Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Ohio, Texas, Nevada, California and Wisconsin, as well as fellow Kentucky squads, such as Holy Cross, Mercy, Notre Dame, Male, Presentation and Sacred Heart.

Whoever manages to come out on top of this quarterfinal round matchup will advance to the tournament semifinals on Saturday, also at GRC, where they will face the winners of Mercy (21-20, Region 6) versus Boyd County (33-6, Region 16).

Start time for Whitley County versus Assumption in the 2023 KHSAA State Tournament is Friday, Nov. 3 at 1:30 p.m. It has been announced by Superintendent John Siler that there will be no school Friday in the Whitley County School District so that faculty, staff, and students can attend the game if they wish.

Directions to George Rogers Clark High School (from Whitley County High School): Get on I-75 North, Follow to Exit 95 in Madison County, Follow KY-627 N to 2745 Boonesboro Road in Winchester.