DISTRICT 7-1A TOURNAMENT: York Institute Wins District 7-1A Championship Over Jackson County In 5 Sets

By Michael Lindsay

The York Institute Dragonettes are the champions of District 7-1A once again following Tuesday’s championship victory over Jackson County in 5 sets at Clay County High School.

The Dragonettes opened the evening with a 3-1 victory over Van Buren County in the first semifinal game followed by Jackson County defeating Clay County 3-1 in the second, setting up the championship matchup immediately after that York won in 5 sets.

“These girls have aged me a little bit,” said York head coach Shane Monday. “This bunch doesn’t quit; we came out on fire the first two sets, then had a little letdown in the third and fourth. In that fifth set, they made up their minds and knew what they needed to do. I didn’t have to say anything in that huddle.”

York Institute won the first two sets 25-16 and 25-10 to take a 2-0 lead, needing only one more set win to win the district championship. Jackson County battled back to win the next third set 25-21 and fourth 25-22, setting up a winner-take-all fifth set to 15.

“Jackson County has a really good coach and he adjusted on some stuff and they out-hit us in that third and fourth set,” said Monday. “In the district finals, you’re not going to 3-0 with two good teams going at it.”

The Lady Devils jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the fifth set and led 12-10 before York stormed back to score the game’s final five points and win the set 15-12 to secure the District 7-1A championship on a kill by senior district MVP Callie Franklin.

Along with Franklin, Jade Delk and Emma Pile were named to the all-tournament team alongside Jackson County’s Eva Wilson and Jules Looper, Clay County’s Baylor Walden and Van Buren County’s Cara Mills.

York Institute and Jackson County will advance to next week’s Region 4-1A tournament semifinals alongside District 8-1A’s Gordonsville and East Robertson, who play their district championship Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Gordonsville. Tuesday’s region semifinal matchups and times TBD.