Monroe Central

Monroe Central 7th Grade Lady Bears Claim 2nd Place at MEC Tournament The Monroe Central 7th Grade Lady Bears showcased their tenacity and talent this weekend, earning a well-fought 2nd place at the MEC Tournament. The Lady Bears powered through two decisive victories before falling in a hard-fought championship match against Shenandoah. First Match: Monroe Central vs. Wes-Del In their opening match, Monroe Central dominated Wes-Del in straight sets, winning 25-14, 25-15. Every Lady Bear saw time on the court, contributing to a complete team performance. Landry Taylor led with 8 assists and 1 kill, while Izzy McGrath impressed with 6 kills. Bristol Goad added 4 aces and 1 kill, and Claire Cheesman contributed 2 aces and 1 kill. Other key performances included Haidyn Knott with 2 digs and 1 assist, Gracie McCreery with 2 kills, and Mati McConnell and Alyssa Chalfant with 1 ace each. This dominant victory set the tone for the Lady Bears’ strong run in the tournament. Second Match: Monroe Central vs. Daleville The Lady Bears continued their momentum in the second round, defeating Daleville in two sets, 25-18, 25-15. Haidyn Knott was a standout with 5 aces, 2 kills, and 2 assists, while Landry Taylor added 4 assists and 1 kill. Izzy McGrath had 4 kills, and Gracie McCreery contributed 3 kills. Claire Cheesman chipped in 1 kill and 1 ace, while Bristol Goad and Callie Grove each had 1 kill. Mati McConnell also contributed 1 dig and 1 ace. With a convincing win over Daleville, Monroe Central advanced to the championship match. Championship Match: Monroe Central vs. Shenandoah In the final match against Shenandoah, the Lady Bears came out strong, taking the first set 25-19. Monroe Central played with energy and precision, but Shenandoah bounced back in the second set with aggressive serving and powerful attacks, winning 25-12. The third set saw the momentum fully shift to Shenandoah, and despite some strong defensive plays, Monroe Central couldn’t regain control, ultimately losing 8-15. Though the championship slipped away, the Lady Bears showed immense growth in their defense as a team, recording a season-high 19 digs. Claire Cheesman led with 8 digs, 3 kills, and 1 ace, while Gracie McCreery contributed 4 kills and 3 digs. Landry Taylor added 5 assists, 1 dig, and 1 ace, and Bristol Goad had 4 digs, 1 kill, 1 assist, and 1 ace. Haidyn Knott added 3 digs, 2 assists, 1 kill, and 1 ace, while Izzy McGrath had 2 kills and 1 block. Mati McConnell rounded out the stats with 1 ace. After the match, Coach Kim praised the team’s efforts: "The girls wanted this so bad, but we just couldn't get it finished. Our team proved that they can play at a very high level, and I am so proud of how far they have come!" Looking Ahead The Lady Bears still have one week of regular-season games remaining, followed by the Randolph County Tournament on October 12th. With their strong performance in the MEC Tournament, Monroe Central looks ready to finish the season strong.