Avery Lewis sends the ball over the net in the quarterfinal round of the 10th Region volleyball tournament on Oct. 28, 2025.
Makenzie Rudd makes a serve against the Montgomery County Lady Indians in the quarterfinal round of the 10th Region volleyball tournament on Oct. 28, 2025.
WINCHESTER, Ky. — The Bracken County Lady Bears took the floor at George Rogers Clark to face off against the Montgomery County Lady Indians in the quarterfinal round of the 10th Region volleyball tournament.
Bracken County entered the first round of the 10th Region tournament feeling confident. After picking up their third straight 39th District championship, and drawing a team they had already defeated once prior this season, the Lady Bears were eager to take the court, and hopeful for their shot at a 10th Region semifinal appearance.
“I’m really proud of my girls. They’ve worked hard since they started playing volleyball in the fifth grade. A lot of these girls have been playing varsity volleyball since they were in the seventh grade, this is a big day for them,” Lady Bears head coach Julie Krift said.
The first set of play proved just how much neither team was willing to let their season come to an end. The Lady Bears picked up a slim early lead over the Lady Indians, up 5-4, but Montgomery County would keep the game tied or within one point through 11-11. Late in the set, Bracken County extended their lead to 20-15, but Montgomery County once again fought their way back into the contest, tying it 23-23. The set then remained tied through 27-27, where the Lady Bears pulled out a 29-27 victory in extra points.
“We came out, we executed what we were trying to do. They made some adjustments, started picking up some balls that we just didn’t capitalize,” coach Krift said. “It started with passing, we couldn’t really stay in our offense that we really wanted to stay in, once we got to that second game. It started at the end of that first game. I felt like we had a little bit more control at the beginning of the game than we did at the end.”
In set two, it was the Lady Indians with an early lead, up 5-3 over the Lady Bears. Bracken County continued to battle throughout the set, bringing the game close, down 13-10, before tying the set 18-18. Unfortunately for the Lady Bears, Montgomery County pulled out ahead again late in the set, closing it out 25-20, tying the game 1-1 heading into set three.
The third set was similar to set two, with an early lead from Montgomery County having the Lady Bears down 10-3. Bracken County once again fought their way back into the contest, down 17-15 midway through the set, but another late push from the Lady Indians had them up 25-16 when the set came to a close.
“They battled the whole time, ball just didn’t land our way tonight. Sometimes that happens,” coach Krift said, “I thought we were gonna come out that second game and play a little bit better, but it didn’t get better for us. A lot of balls fell in their favor. Kicking the ball and it going over, I think one repetition I think we blocked the ball six times and it still landed on our floor, those are rough balls to lose.”
Montgomery County picked up another early lead in set four, leading 10-2 over the Lady Bears. Once again Bracken County continued to fight their way back into the game, but would fall 25-15, Montgomery County taking contest 3-1 over Bracken County.
“It’s very emotional, we’re feeling a little bit, just, a lot of emotions. They’re all sad obviously because they wanted to play tomorrow, we know we can’t now and they’re just kinda coming together and loving each other the way the should,” coach Krift said.
At the end of the 2025 volleyball season, the Lady Bears say goodbye to six seniors who have been longstanding members of the program: Macy Lucas, Jordan Ahrens, Lauren Ruark, Makenzie Rudd, Ashley Stafford and Baylee Wilson.
“They’re the greatest. I couldn’t ask for anything more from all six of them, I love them all,” coach Krift said, “They’ve given everything they have to the volleyball program at Bracken County, and they are role models for these little kids that are playing that are 12 and 13. These young girls are watching them and saying ‘I wanna be like this girl’, ‘I wanna be like that girl’, just picking these girls and these positions. They’re great role models in school, on the volleyball court, in the community. They’re just great kids.”
With this win, the Lady Indians returned to the court last night to take on the Scott Lady Eagles in the 10th Region semifinals, hoping for their shot at a region championship berth. The 10th Region championship game is scheduled for tonight, at George Rogers Clark at 6:30 p.m.
