Bluegrass Games Review

The grand total of 106 teams ventured to Lexington over a three-day period for a guaranteed six games against teams from around the state trying to fine-tune some things in preparation for the season in less than a month in addition to spending quality time with their teammates, coaches and families.   The Sacred Heart Valkyries came into the tournament favored to repeat and did it, but the Valkyries had to earn it as teams constantly bring out their best against them. Similar to the other four of Kentucky's Dominant Five (Louisville powers Mercy, Assumption and northern Kentucky powers Notre Dame and St. Henry), the Valkyries run a solid fast-paced offense and used their depth to their advantage. Sacred Heart setter [player_tooltip player_id='477212' first='Sarah' last='Kempf'] puts her sets on target for the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='172949' first='Bridget' last='Egan'], [player_tooltip player_id='159351' first='Anna' last='Powell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='159350' first='Elise' last='Hart']. Teammates like defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='253869' first='Hilary' last='Pehlke'] are growing in their roles around those four.   Sacred Heart beat defending 5th Region champion Central Hardin, 21-9, 21-19, but the Bruins left Lexington with even more confidence than when they came putting up a battle against the Valkyries in the second game. The Bruins led for parts of that second game before the Valkyries pulled it out.   Sacred Heart first had to survive a three-set battle against defending 11th Region champion Paul Laurence Dunbar in the semifinals after beating Ryle and Franklin County to make it to that point. It came down to a point that the Valkyries won 21-16, 18-21, 17-16. The scoring caps were 23 in the first two sets then 17 if a third one became necessary.   The Bruins also run fast-paced offense led by by senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='159346' first='Samantha' last='Nelson'] and setter [player_tooltip player_id='477116' first='Kati' last='Vest'] to go with hitters such as [player_tooltip player_id='579201' first='Larkin' last='Taylor'], Sadie Atcher and [player_tooltip player_id='212390' first='Klaire' last='Warrell']. Central Hardin finished 8-1 in the tournament fending off McCracken County in the first game of the championship flight before knocking off Ballard in the quarterfinals, then beating the only other Dominant Five team in the games in Mercy, 21-17, 22-20 in the semifinals.   The Bruins left the court understandably excited after beating Mercy. The Jaguars have eliminated the Bruins in four previous meetings, including the first round of state last year in a 3-2 battle and the state semifinals in 2021.   Dunbar is led by [player_tooltip player_id='198544' first='Isabela' last='Haggard']. She continuously listens to her teammates with where they tell her to set the ball. The Bulldogs had to fend off Highlands in three, 21-13, 19-21, 15-10 to make it to the championship flight semifinals. The Bulldogs will be in the mix for another 11th Region crown in the postseason some key graduation losses.   Mercy has been fending off challenges consistently and hopes to continue to do so this season like they did in the first two games Sunday. Greenwood and Frederick Douglass both took the Jaguars three games. [player_tooltip player_id='172954' first='Madisyn' last='Green'] continues to hustle after balls with [player_tooltip player_id='479299' first='Addison' last='Davis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='245633' first='Maia' last='Marin'] continuously giving great sets to Madi Yaden and other solid hitters.   The Jaguars have the most appearances in the history of the state tournament with 44 missing it just one time in 1980 in the second year of the tournament. Mercy fended off Bullitt East in the 6th Region championship game last year to keep the streak of 43 straight appearances intact.   Frederick Douglass has the size and quickness to make things interesting in the 11th Region this year. That starts with libero [player_tooltip player_id='486904' first='Ava' last='Simonsen']. [player_tooltip player_id='159394' first='Brooke' last='Turner'], [player_tooltip player_id='204996' first='Addison' last='Jarvis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='397415' first='Chloe' last='Jensen'] give the Broncos plenty of offensive weapons. The key for the Broncos will be faster starts, which was somewhat of a struggle at times during the Bluegrass Games.   Highlands made what many may consider a surprise run to the quarterfinals, but not to those around the program. The players have bought in and are doing what second-year head coach Jim DeLong is asking of them. [player_tooltip player_id='276170' first='Hayden' last='Gessner'] brings a lot of experience at libero. [player_tooltip player_id='395942' first='Ella' last='Cox'] and [player_tooltip player_id='503792' first='Ava' last='Muzumdar'] return with a year of the system under their belts and the Blubirds are loaded at hitter with the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='486914' first='Sydney' last='Schomaker'], Alexis Steinhauser, [player_tooltip player_id='486907' first='Lyla' last='Bottom'] and Liz Perkins.   Ballard had a strong showing in the tournament overall going 5-0 then winning the first two games in championship flight. That included a tight 21-19, 23-22 win over Holy Cross (Louisville). The Bruins used their size with [player_tooltip player_id='212348' first='Ella' last='Grivna'], [player_tooltip player_id='443382' first='Ava' last='Liening'], [player_tooltip player_id='395957' first='Piper' last='Blain'] and [player_tooltip player_id='535204' first='Michaela' last='Stinson'] all standing six feet and above well the entire tournament. They will beat a number of teams with the size. However, the Bruins know they need to work on their overall quickness to beat solid teams, especially after Central Hardin exposed it in the quarterfinals of the championship flight.   Franklin County was the other team to make the quarterfinals in the championship flight. Head coach Dale Adkins said the Flyers cracked the Top 25 in state last year for the first time in school history. The Flyers boast one of the top outside hitters in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='159328' first='Sophie' last='Dufour'].   DuPont Manual, Bowling Green, Scott County, Bethlehem, Simon Kenton, Eastern and Christian County won their respective flights. Bethlehem had an interesting path having to beat 19th District rival Bardstown in the Flight 5 title game. Bardstown had beaten another 19th District rival in Thomas Nelson in the semifinals of that flight.   A number of players stood out in the tournament including these players.    Kempf (pictured) does a great job running Sacred Heart's fast-paced offense. She puts balls high enough in the air to help Sacred Heart's hitters go over and around blockers. Kempf can do short sets, cross-court sets and back sets.     Hart is a dominant front row player for the Valkyries. She's developed a solid approach to the net, smacking balls down hard to different parts of the court in the fast-paced Valkyrie offense. Hart can adjust in mid-air to tap balls over blockers if necessary. Hart also has great timing on her blocks.     Nelson does a great job getting excited after the Bruins score points and encouraging them after plays do not go their way. She's what coaches want in a leader. Nelson constantly hustles after balls reading opposing hitters well and makes solid passes helping the Bruins run a nice offense. Nelson is not afraid to make solid sets when needed.         Pendley seems to be fitting in well with the Bulldogs transferring in from another school in the offseason. She is a productive hitter adjusting to sets from different spots and produces solid power from her feet up. She is also consistent on defense.     Green stays very even-keeled on the court no matter what happens making her a tremendous leader. She's very respectful when she approaches the head referee to ask a question. Green consistently hustles after balls throughout matches no matter where they are headed. She squares up balls to make good passes to the setters and has a solid jump serve.     Perkins is bringing more versatility for the Bluebirds this season. She can hit from both the front and back row using good form. Perkins also has a hard serve that gives opponents problems. Perkins came up clutch in the 36th District championship with 11 kills when Newport Central Catholic focused specifically on one of her teammates.     Sanders is working well with her four teammates that stand six feet and above in addition to other experienced hitters for the Bruins. Sanders can do quick sets and cross sets. Sanders also brings things to the table on defense and serving, giving the Bruins versatility with her agility and speed.     Dufour is an outstanding leader on the court for the Flyers, giving her teammates guidance before serves happen. She plays all six spots on the court with a lot of enthusiasm. Dufour can pound balls down with a lot of power and adjusts well in the air to tip balls. Dufour also does a great job leveling her arms with balls to make solid passes.     The Broncos do a great job flowing to balls led by Simonsen. She dives after balls on the courts, constantly making great passes on her knees. She can run from the back line to tipped balls quickly and hard hit balls carom off her arms to setters. Simonsen said she's been spending her offseason focusing on her serve reception and defense and it showed during the Bluegrass Games.     Gilbert brings not only height for the Mustangs, but also a lot of agility and versatility. Gilbert appears to be hitting the ball one way, but guides it the opposite way, throwing off defenders. Gilbert pounds balls down hard. She can take some things off the hits to guide the ball gently to the back row and hit balls off and around blockers.

The grand total of 106 teams ventured to Lexington over a three-day period for a guaranteed six games against teams from around the state trying to fine-tune some things in preparation for the season in less than a month in addition to spending quality time with their teammates, coaches and families.