Across the state: Highlands, Bracken County win tournaments

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Attend the Top 250 Expo 12/1 in Wilder, KY! Use coupon code "GrahamExpo2024" at checkout for $10 off registration fee!</strong> 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></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Highlands Bluebirds came into Saturday hoping to ultimately receive another chance against the host Lafayette Generals in the Halloween Smash after losing to the Generals in three on Friday in pool play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Highlands (25-8) earned the chance with wins over Montgomery County, Tates Creek then a rematch against Ashland. The Bluebirds won an intense first game, 29-27 before taking the championship with a 25-14 win. In that title game, [player_tooltip player_id='276170' first='Hayden' last='Gessner'] and Mia Perron led the defensive effort with 11 and 10 digs, respectively with setters [player_tooltip player_id='395942' first='Ella' last='Cox'] and [player_tooltip player_id='503792' first='Ava' last='Muzumdar'] dishing out 13 assists each to seven different hitters. [player_tooltip player_id='486914' first='Sydney' last='Schomaker'] led the Bluebirds with nine kills with [player_tooltip player_id='486907' first='Lyla' last='Bottom'] and [player_tooltip player_id='590640' first='Liz' last='Perkins'] recording five each. [player_tooltip player_id='590644' first='Alexis' last='Steinhauser'] had four kills and sophomore Taylor Janosick added three. Gessner earned her 1000th career dig earlier in the week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Highlands concludes the week at Beechwood on Tuesday and Cooper on Thursday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lafayette (17-10) continues to make strides finishing the tournament 3-1. The Generals beat Conner earlier in the day to make it to the championship game. The Generals host Danville on Wednesday then travel to Bryan Station on Thursday to conclude the regular season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tates Creek (11-15) finished 4-1 in the tournament bouncing back to beat John Hardin and Conner after losing to Highlands. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='544046' first='Stella' last='Myers'] leads the Commodores with 665 assists, 154 digs and 36 aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bracken County wins Blocktoberfest Volleyball Tournament at Bullitt Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bracken County Bears won the Bullitt Central Tournament. Junior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='594471' first='Jordan' last='Ahrens'] won the tournament's most valuable player award. Junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='212193' first='Macy' last='Lucas'] became the school's all-time kill leader with her 722nd kill earlier in the week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bracken County concludes the regular season with games at Bellevue on Tuesday and Bourbon County on Wednesday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dominant Five Checkup</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Notre Dame (25-3) beat Ryle on Wednesday before losing a tough 3-2 (17-25, 25-21, 24-26, 25-23, 15-10) battle against Ohio power Cincinnati Ursuline on Thursday. The Pandas face Assumption at home Tuesday before concluding the regular season against Conner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption (25-7) won both games this week over Louisville Holy Cross and Mercy. [player_tooltip player_id='212398' first='Ella' last='Askin'] had a big game with 13 kills for the Rockets in the win over the Jaguars. Assumption travels to Notre Dame on Tuesday then concludes the regular season at home against Manual (25-8).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sacred Heart (28-5) has won four in a row since losing to Assumption for the second time this season. They beat Presentation and Elizabethtown this week. The Valkyries host Manual on Wednesday then go to North Oldham on Thursday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manual bested Mercy, 3-1 on Wednesday. [player_tooltip player_id='642357' first='Kennedy' last='Dawson'] led the Crimsons with 24 digs in that game. Abby Genter had 23 assists and 15 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='477202' first='Aubrey' last='Montgomery'] landing 25 assists and 12 kills. [player_tooltip player_id='588564' first='Brooke' last='Ciresi'] and [player_tooltip player_id='484427' first='Piper' last='Fulton'] landed 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Mercy (19-14) takes on Nelson County at home Monday to conclude the regular season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Henry (28-4) lost a tight 3-2 (16-25, 25-20, 25-22, 21-25, 20-18) battle against Cincinnati Ursuline on Tuesday, but came back to beat Dixie Heights on Thursday. The Crusaders travel to Ryle on Tuesday before going to Bowling Green on Saturday to finish the regular season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Performances</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["276170"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":705566,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-670d18c3c0e86"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gessner has turned into a vocal leader for the Bluebirds. Gessner has seen varsity play since her eighth grade season and it shows as she continuously finds ways to better balls. Gessner does not get fooled easily on setter dumps. The team celebrated her 1000th career dig earlier in the week. Gessner has 401 digs and 31 aces on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["486907"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":705569,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-670d18c3c0f43"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bottom is a big reason why the Bluebirds have reached 25 wins for the third time since 2019. She gives the Bluebirds a solid hitting option in the middle with solid swings and helps disrupt things at the net with timely blocking. Bottom helps create a number of one-on-one opportunities for her teammates. Bottom even tries to dig up balls with one arm when needed. She has good line drives on her serves. Bottom has 171 kills, 56 assisted blocks, 14 solo blocks and 30 aces on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["253865"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":705575,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-670d18c3c0fe0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sorensen does a great job leading on the court, making sure her teammates are in position to succeed. She is a solid passer that is not afraid to extend with one arm trying to keep plays alive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["600935"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-670d1f045e2d6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rudd played a big role in helping the Bears win the Blocktoberfest Tournament at Bullitt Central. Rudd does not try to do too much on balls. She anticipates where balls are going and uses her hands to make two and three-point passes to the setter. Her arm passes are real crisp. Rudd has good spin on her serves landing them at different spots on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["477129"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-670d1f045e328"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Chaffins admits to having to overcome her fair share of adversity in life, but it has only made her stronger on the court. Chaffins gives the Kittens a strong option from the strong left side. Chaffins hits balls to different parts of the court. Chaffins hits balls off blockers and can take things off the spikes to land them to places such as the back line. Chaffins has developed some jump from doing the high jump in the winter and spring. Chaffins owns the school record in both indoor and outdoor track both at five feet even.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->