Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The GRC Lady Cardinals have already equaled half of their win total from last season during the 2022 campaign.

Coach Kainan Hudson’s squad is off to a 5-3 start – they won nine matches in 2021 – after a 2-2 showing in the Seeds for Success Tournament held in Fleming County on Saturday.

The Lady Cards lost 2-1 to the Ashland Blazer Kittens (8-1). The Kittens captured the first set 25-18. GRC evened the match by taking the second set 25-20 but fell in the decisive third set 25-22. The Lady Cards had 23 kills in the match. Eighth-grader Mia Pendley and sophomore Gracie Abney combined for 13 alone. Junior Kelsey McKeehan contributed 15 of the team’s 21 assists, and Kamryn Toler – also a junior – had 16 of the team’s 28 digs.

The Breathitt County Lady Cats (6-4) fell to GRC in straight sets, 25-22 and 25-20. McKeehan contributed 14 assists to the cause. The Lady Cards combined for 22 kills and 27 digs – Toler and junior Lauren Anderson each had seven – in the win.

GRC then fell to the Clinton County Lady Bulldogs (9-6) in straight sets, 25-18 and 28-26. The team combined for 21 kills. Pendley leads the team with nine. McKeehan had 14 of the team’s 17 assists and 16 of its 44 digs. Toler had ten digs during the match.

GRC claimed its second tournament victory over the St. Patrick (3-6) Lady Saints, 25-10 and 25-13. The Lady Cards combined for 17 kills and 15 digs. McKeehan had 11 of the team’s 14 assists.
Through seven matches, Pendley has 48 kills and is averaging 2.67 a match. Toler leads the team with 69 digs total on the season, averaging 3.83 per match. McKeehan has 122 of the Lady Card’s 149 assists and averages over six per match.

The Lady Cards will welcome Pendleton County (7-3) to Winchester on Tuesday and then Madison Central (9-2) on Wednesday.