Region 4 Preview: Allen County vs. Russell County

Photo: Lady Laker Volleyball

Riley Marshall

October 25, 2022 @ 08:00 AM

For the last region 4 matchup, we have Allen County and Russell County. This match is the last first round game for the region and will be played on Tuesday, October 25th at 7:00 PM.   First up, Allen County went 16-19 this season with an 11-8 record in the region. They battled their way through districts to get to the championship but ended up falling short to Warren East in the finals. Their lone senior, Ana Walker, dominates for the Lady Patriots as an all the way around middle hitter where she scores in the front and the back row. Walker has 349 kills on the year and averages 3.67 kills per set. Walker is a stud in the front row and knows when to swing away yet also place the ball if needed. Their other star hitter, junior, Jaedyn Mosby, is a solid left side and has 203 kills on the year. With their 6'2 offense, the setters, [player_tooltip player_id='128191' first='Ava' last='Kinslow'] and [player_tooltip player_id='212170' first='Georgie' last='Tabor'], do a great job spreading the ball around to every option. Then, their libero, Leyla Spurlock, is always balling out in the back row, and her stats only prove it with 384 digs on the year and averaging 4.27 digs a set. This team fights for the dub and never gives up!   Next, we have Russell County, that's coming off a district championship win against Clinton County in a five set nail biter. This squad went 30-7 on the year and 13-1 in region where they lost to Warren East in two tight sets. What I love about Russell County is the growth they've shown in just one year. Back in 2021, they went 10-18, lost in the district finals to Clinton County, and then lost first round of region. Now, you see them as a winning team, district champs, and currently placed fifth in the region. The Lady Lakers do a great job of not having one person shine and all working together as a unit. Their numbers even show it where four of their five hitters all have over 100 kills. Leading the team is Briley Murray with 290 and then Rachel Webb with 204. Junior setter, Avery Hart, though is really the heart of this team. No pun intended. She has the most assists with 764, the most digs with 226, and the top number of service aces with 77. Hart is the reason why the offense works so well and makes the team unstoppable.   The last region game will be a fun one as both teams have worked incredibly hard to get where they are now. I bet they are both just happy to be in region and will play hard while also having fun. Good luck to both squads and their seniors.

For the last region 4 matchup, we have Allen County and Russell County. This match is the last first round game for the region and will be played on Tuesday, October 25th at 7:00 PM.