David Halcomb’s Whitley County Lady Colonels are just a few hours away from participating in their first ever Elite 8 matchup of the KHSAA Volleyball State Tournament.
The Lady Colonels will be facing off against Notre Dane with hope of moving in to the Final Four at George Rogers Clark.
Whitley County might be going up against one of the best teams in the state, but the Lady Colonels will be prepared and aren’t strangers to winning the big games.
“The accomplishments of this team are outstanding — 2A Section 7 Champions, 50th District Champions, 13th Region Champions and advancing to the Elite 8 of the KHSAA State Tournament,” Whitley County coach David Halcomb said. “It’s just been a heck of a season and one of the very best any team has ever put together in Whitley County athletics.
“It’s not just that we have accomplished those things, but the way we have done it — coming back in championship matches after dropping the first set and also being down several points late in crucial sets at both Corbin and Wolfe County, only to come back and win,” he added. “It’s a testament as to how much heart these girls have and the deep desire they have to win. It’s been a great run for us.”
Expect to see a lot of support from the home town fans as well. The Lady Colonels have received tons of support wherever they’ve played, and Halcomb expects no different today.
“I think the success of this team has brought a lot of joy to all of Colonel Nation — our administration, faculty & staff, our student body, parents, former players and future players,” he said. “From my perspective, it’s so gratifying to see our girls play for something greater than themselves and I think that played a factor late in the season — I really do.
Our fanbase has travelled well, took time to support us, spend money on tickets and gas to get to these matches,” he added. “I talked about this with our girls the other day. It’s just been a pleasure to watch these girls play at such a high level and bring happiness to our fan base. I think this season will continue to pay dividends for our program for years to come. We have a very talented group of 4th-8th graders who have seen what can be done in our volleyball program and the expectations we have for them.”
The big question is, can Whitley County get past Notre Dame?
“I know Notre Dame Academy is one of the top two or three teams in the state right now,” Halcomb said. “We have watched film on them and there aren’t many weaknesses with what they do. They are very athletic and have outstanding volleyball players – very well coached.
“It will be a big challenge for us, but we are taking the same approach and preparation we’ve taken the last three weeks,” he added. “It’s a competition, the game has to be played before a winner is declared. It’s an exciting time for our team and to be able to advance to the Elite 8 is an awesome accomplishment. We will have to play free and fearless and I’m confident our girls will play extremely hard and will execute to the best of their abilities.”
