Across the Commonwealth: Notre Dame wins Asics Challenge

Attend the Top 250 Expo 12/1 in Wilder, KY! Use coupon code "GrahamExpo2024" at checkout for $10 off registration fee! Here's the link to the event page: <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/1299/register/kentucky-top-250-expo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://events.prepdig.com/e/1299/register/kentucky-top-250-expo</a>   The Notre Dame Pandas won the Asics Challenge at Mother McAuley in Chicago over the weekend for the first time since the tournament started in 1987. They'd been close in recent years finishing runner-up to the host Mighty Macs in each of the past two seasons.   Notre Dame (24-2) did not lose a set in the tournament. It started Friday with Pool 6 wins over the third-ranked team in Florida in Berkeley Prep and Montini Catholic (Illinois). The Pandas then knocked off defending state champion Assumption before taking down the Illinois fourth-ranked team in Marist then Nebraska's top-ranked Skutt Catholic from Omaha, which has players committed to the University of North Carolina and Colorado University.   The Pandas continue to win with balance. They have won 15 in a row and finish the season with three home games after traveling to Ryle on Wednesday at 7 p.m.   Assumption (23-8) won both pool play games on Friday over Huntley (Illinois) and Marquette (Missouri) by 2-0 scores. In the gold consolation, the Rockets lost the next game to the country's sixth-ranked Divine Savior Holy Angels (Wisconsin) before leaving with a 2-1 win over Xavier (Iowa) to finish seventh in the tournament. The Rockets had previously won the tournament 15 times with the most recent one coming in 2021.   McCracken County wins Jefferson County Invitational   McCracken County won another tournament over the weekend going 5-0 Friday and Saturday at the Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Academy Sports Center. The Mustangs beat Highlands, Cooper and Greenwood in pool play to advance to the Gold bracket besting the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association's eighth-ranked Central Hardin Bruins in the semifinals then Alabama's second-ranked Bob Jones in the title game.   Other JCIVT Notes   Beechwood, Ballard and Cooper won the silver, bronze and copper brackets respectively. Beechwood finished 4-1 in the tournament along with Bob Jones and Central Hardin. Central Hardin knocked off Logan County to finish third in the tournament.   Beechwood (20-7) beat defending 8th Region champion Oldham County then Highlands in the silver championship game. The Tigers also took down state-ranked Ballard in pool play Friday.   Highlands (18-7) knocked off Cooper, 2-0 (25-18, 25-17) to complete pool play Saturday morning. That ended an 18-game Jaguars winning streak in the series. The Bluebirds had only beaten Cooper one other time since Cooper opened in 2008. That came all the way back on Sept. 19, 2009 by a 2-1 score.   East Jessamine snaps losing streak to county arch-rival West Jessamine   The East Jessamine Jaguars in Abby Coofer's first season as head coach pulled off a huge 3-2 (25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 21-25, 15-12) victory over the five-time defending 12th Region champion West Jessamine Colts on Thursday. That ended a 31-game losing streak in the series that dated back to a 2-0 (25-22, 25-21) win on Aug. 24, 2010.   East Jessamine (10-11) has hit double-digit wins in a season for the first time since winning 11 three years ago. [player_tooltip player_id='269864' first='Audrey' last='Fraddosio'] recorded the 1000th kill of her career in that game. The Jaguars have had solid play from senior setter Alexis Vittitow, junior [player_tooltip player_id='778433' first='Kaitlyn' last='Cadle'] and others in Abby Coofer's first season as head coach.   Bell County wins own tournament   The Bobcats (24-9) went 4-0 to win their own tournament Saturday knocking off McCreary Central in the title game.   Freshman Emma Winkler is turning into a solid all-around player for the Bobcats contributing in every category. She gives the Bobcats another hitting option after 6-4 [player_tooltip player_id='608199' first='Kairi' last='Lamb'], who just surpassed 500 kills on the season. Nevaeh Allen also sets for Bell County with the likes of Abbi Middleton, [player_tooltip player_id='484290' first='Alexis' last='Brown'], Emily Rose and Adyson Scott helping out serving and digging.   St. Henry continues to roll   The Crusaders moved to 26-3 on the season with sound 9th Region wins over Holy Cross and Conner. The Crusaders have a tough week ahead of them taking on Paul Laurence Dunbar on Monday then Ursuline (Cincinnati) on Tuesday at home.   Tie on top of 48th District   The Somerset Christian Cougars (20-8) took down the Southwestern Warriors, 3-2 (25-23, 14-25, 25-20, 20-25, 17-15) up the road to even thing up in the battle for the top seed in the district tournament. A coin flip will decide the top seed if Southwestern (22-8) wins at McCreary Central on Tuesday and Somerset Christian beats Wayne County at home.   Southwestern beat Taylor County on Monday then rebounded to beat Wayne County on Thursday. Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='269733' first='Halle' last='Norvell'] picked up her 3000th career assist in that win.   District Tournaments Posted   Seven district tournament schedules have been posted. Postseason play begins on the 21st of this month. Carlisle County finished 6-0 in 1st District play and plays host to the district tournament that starts that day against Fulton City.   Notable Performances    Tilden is surrounded by playmakers so she does not have to carry the load for the Pandas. Notre Dame is so balanced that Tilden sees a lot of one-on-one blocking on the outside and takes full advantage of it. Her spikes go zipping to the ground. Similar to her teammates, Tilden continuously finds ways to better balls.     Cadle is a big reason why the Jaguars have turned the corner making it to double-digit wins. Cadle commands the back row constantly moving her feet trying to sniff out the opposing hitters' tendencies. She puts her body in position to make good passes to the setter. Cadle showed she is not afraid to lay out going after balls in recording 23 digs in East Jessamine's win over county rival West Jessamine on Thursday. Cadle has 271 digs on the season.     Presswood is showing a lot of promise for the Mustangs. She works well with the libero reacting quickly to balls with her hands and sliding to them on the ground. Presswood then runs up to the net for coverage while the second pass is taking place. Presswood has really been impressive serving the ball. She sends line drives to the back that defenders don't see going to the line until the last second. She mixes up her spots well making it tough on solid defensive specialists. Presswood had a team-high 56 aces entering the weekend.     Schilling continues to be a solid example for the young. Schilling makes play after play for the Jaguars. Schilling transitions from offense to defense quickly. She goes up strong offensively and has good timing to put balls down. Defensively, she hustles all over the place keeping plays alive. Schilling recorded her 1000th career dig last week.     Winkler is turning into a nice all-around player for the Bobcats. She can push balls to different parts of the court away from defenders. Winkler throws off defenders with setter dumps and pushes on second hits. Defensively, Winkler does not hide behind blocks. She has good net coverage and makes crisp passes. Winkler can also land aces for the Bobcats.     Hogancamp is three-sport athlete at Carlisle County and has taken her game to another level for the Comets. Hogancamp does a great job using her size to control the net. She has good timing on her blocks and makes adjustments to put balls down including tips. She can shove balls off blockers if necessary. Hogancamp makes opponents hit over her helping out the Carlisle County passers.

Attend the Top 250 Expo 12/1 in Wilder, KY! Use coupon code "GrahamExpo2024" at checkout for $10 off registration fee! Here's the link to the event page: https://events.prepdig.com/e/1299/register/kentucky-top-250-expo

The Notre Dame Pandas won the Asics Challenge at Mother McAuley in Chicago over the weekend for the first time since the tournament started in 1987. They'd been close in recent years finishing runner-up to the host Mighty Macs in each of the past two seasons.

Notre Dame (24-2) did not lose a set in the tournament. It started Friday with Pool 6 wins over the third-ranked team in Florida in Berkeley Prep and Montini Catholic (Illinois). The Pandas then knocked off defending state champion Assumption before taking down the Illinois fourth-ranked team in Marist then Nebraska's top-ranked Skutt Catholic from Omaha, which has players committed to the University of North Carolina and Colorado University.

The Pandas continue to win with balance. They have won 15 in a row and finish the season with three home games after traveling to Ryle on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Assumption (23-8) won both pool play games on Friday over Huntley (Illinois) and Marquette (Missouri) by 2-0 scores. In the gold consolation, the Rockets lost the next game to the country's sixth-ranked Divine Savior Holy Angels (Wisconsin) before leaving with a 2-1 win over Xavier (Iowa) to finish seventh in the tournament. The Rockets had previously won the tournament 15 times with the most recent one coming in 2021.

McCracken County wins Jefferson County Invitational

McCracken County won another tournament over the weekend going 5-0 Friday and Saturday at the Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Academy Sports Center. The Mustangs beat Highlands, Cooper and Greenwood in pool play to advance to the Gold bracket besting the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association's eighth-ranked Central Hardin Bruins in the semifinals then Alabama's second-ranked Bob Jones in the title game.

Other JCIVT Notes

Beechwood, Ballard and Cooper won the silver, bronze and copper brackets respectively. Beechwood finished 4-1 in the tournament along with Bob Jones and Central Hardin. Central Hardin knocked off Logan County to finish third in the tournament.

Beechwood (20-7) beat defending 8th Region champion Oldham County then Highlands in the silver championship game. The Tigers also took down state-ranked Ballard in pool play Friday.

Highlands (18-7) knocked off Cooper, 2-0 (25-18, 25-17) to complete pool play Saturday morning. That ended an 18-game Jaguars winning streak in the series. The Bluebirds had only beaten Cooper one other time since Cooper opened in 2008. That came all the way back on Sept. 19, 2009 by a 2-1 score.

East Jessamine snaps losing streak to county arch-rival West Jessamine

The East Jessamine Jaguars in Abby Coofer's first season as head coach pulled off a huge 3-2 (25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 21-25, 15-12) victory over the five-time defending 12th Region champion West Jessamine Colts on Thursday. That ended a 31-game losing streak in the series that dated back to a 2-0 (25-22, 25-21) win on Aug. 24, 2010.

East Jessamine (10-11) has hit double-digit wins in a season for the first time since winning 11 three years ago. Audrey Fraddosio Audrey Fraddosio 5'10" | OH East Jessamine | 2025 State KY recorded the 1000th kill of her career in that game. The Jaguars have had solid play from senior setter Alexis Vittitow, junior Kaitlyn Cadle Kaitlyn Cadle DS/L East Jessamine | 2026 State KY and others in Abby Coofer's first season as head coach.

Bell County wins own tournament

The Bobcats (24-9) went 4-0 to win their own tournament Saturday knocking off McCreary Central in the title game.

Freshman Emma Winkler is turning into a solid all-around player for the Bobcats contributing in every category. She gives the Bobcats another hitting option after 6-4 Kairi Lamb Kairi Lamb 6'4" | MB Bell County | 2026 State KY , who just surpassed 500 kills on the season. Nevaeh Allen also sets for Bell County with the likes of Abbi Middleton, Lexie Brown Lexie Brown 5'5" | DS/L Pineville | 2027 State KY , Emily Rose and Adyson Scott helping out serving and digging.

St. Henry continues to roll

The Crusaders moved to 26-3 on the season with sound 9th Region wins over Holy Cross and Conner. The Crusaders have a tough week ahead of them taking on Paul Laurence Dunbar on Monday then Ursuline (Cincinnati) on Tuesday at home.

Tie on top of 48th District

The Somerset Christian Cougars (20-8) took down the Southwestern Warriors, 3-2 (25-23, 14-25, 25-20, 20-25, 17-15) up the road to even thing up in the battle for the top seed in the district tournament. A coin flip will decide the top seed if Southwestern (22-8) wins at McCreary Central on Tuesday and Somerset Christian beats Wayne County at home.

Southwestern beat Taylor County on Monday then rebounded to beat Wayne County on Thursday. Senior setter Halle Norvell Halle Norvell 5'11" | S Southwestern | 2025 State KY picked up her 3000th career assist in that win.

District Tournaments Posted

Seven district tournament schedules have been posted. Postseason play begins on the 21st of this month. Carlisle County finished 6-0 in 1st District play and plays host to the district tournament that starts that day against Fulton City.

Notable Performances