Heritage moved on to semifinals of Lincoln Prairie Conference Tournament

By Fred Kroner

The three teams assigned to the Heritage site on Monday (Oct. 2) for first-round pool play matches in the Lincoln Prairie Conference Tournament took turns beating each other.

Tri-County defeated Heritage, 25-20, 24-26, 25-23, but then lost to Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond, 25-23, 25-9. Heritage ended the day by sweeping A-L/A-H, 25-21 25-22.

When all the results had been tabulated, Heritage moved on to the semifinals based on winning the most sets during the evening (three of five). A-L/A-H moved into the consolation bracket after going 2-2 in sets. Tri-County was 2-3 in sets and was assigned to the ninth-place bracket.

Mary Roland handed out 25 assists against Tri-County. Lilli Montgomery posted 34 digs. Gracie Tate landed nine kills and Loran Tate totaled eight kills.

Against A-L/A-H, Montgomery recorded 21 digs and contributed six service aces. Roland distributed 17 assists.

Gracie Tate registered seven kills, Loran Tate had six kills and Riley Miller collected five kills. Gracie Tate served five aces and Loran Tate accumulated two blocks.

Heritage was the No. 3 seed. A-L/A-H was the No. 6 seed and Tri-County was the No. 11 seed.

On Tuesday (Oct. 3), second-seeded Cerro Gordo/Bement edged the Hawks, 25-23, 25-23, in a semifinal showdown.

Roland posted a double-double with 19 assists and 11 digs.

Montgomery (17 digs), Gracie Tate (15 digs) and Destanee Morgan (nine digs) led the defensive effort.

The offensive firepower came from Morgan and Gracie Tate (five kills apiece) as well as Loran Tate and Miller (four kills each).

Addi Hopper registered three service aces and Loran Tate put up two blocks.

The Hawks (16-9-1) return to action on Thursday (Oct. 5) at Argenta-Oreana in the third-place match against Villa Grove.