Cooper's volleyball team erased a two-set deficit Wednesday night, rattling off three straight sets to beat Simon Kenton 3-2 at Joe Stark Memorial Gymnasium in Union.

It was the Lady Jaguars' first win over the Pioneers since 2022.

The set scores told the story of a team that found another gear: 23-25, 19-25, 25-16, 26-24, 15-9. Cooper looked finished after dropping the first two sets but stormed back behind juniors Isabella Taylor and Gisele Slayback, who combined for 32 of the team's 53 kills with 16 apiece, according to Link NKY.

Simon Kenton, ranked No. 4 in the KVCA 8th Region preseason poll, had seized early control. The Pioneers trailed 21-13 in the opening set before ripping off a 12-2 run to steal it 25-23, targeting Cooper's setter with aggressive serving to disrupt the Lady Jaguars' offense. Simon Kenton then overcame a 4-0 deficit in the second set, grabbing its first lead at 9-8 and cruising to a 25-19 win.

Head coach Michelle Isaac made lineup adjustments heading into the third set.

"We changed up the line a bit, and minds shifted … It made them work much harder to try to figure it out and fight for each other," Isaac said.

The changes worked immediately. Cooper dominated the third set 25-16, survived a tight fourth set 26-24 and pulled away in the decisive fifth 15-9.

Taylor finished with 16 kills, four digs and two blocks. Slayback added 16 kills, five blocks, three digs and a service ace. Sophomore Julia Thoman led the team in digs, freshman Lilli Brown paced the offense with a team-high in assists, and junior Karly Barbour contributed three service aces.

Cooper carries just one senior on its roster, a fact Isaac pointed to with pride after the comeback.

"In years past, we may not have done that … This team … they've got something. I really like what we're building," she said.

For Simon Kenton (1-1), head coach Monica Hurd was coaching just her second game at the helm. Maria Mullis led the Pioneers with 13 kills, Taylor Jones posted a team-high 11 blocks, Allie Ross recorded 27 digs and Lillie Laughlin served four aces.

Cooper (1-1) hosts Newport Central Catholic on Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Union. Simon Kenton travels to Georgetown to face Scott County on Aug. 28 at 8 p.m.