Top District Semifinal Matches to Watch

<!-- 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&nbsp;link to the event page:&nbsp;<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 district tournaments begin Monday and this season will have its fair share of good teams battling not to see their seasons end. Teams must advance to the district championship game to make it to the respective region tournaments.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are those top matchups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Monday</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3rd District</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ballard Memorial (22-10) vs. Graves County (12-9) at Mayfield</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The teams split during the regular season winning on the opposite court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='212172' first='Keira' last='Shaw'] leads the balanced Bombers attack with 561 assists, 297 digs and 52 aces. She distributes the ball well to hitters like [player_tooltip player_id='477169' first='Amyah' last='Smith']. [player_tooltip player_id='535251' first='Aubrey' last='Alexander'] is having an outstanding year with 561 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Graves County had a tough start to the season but has won four of the last five. The Eagles have used three setters with [player_tooltip player_id='395949' first='Audrey' last='Smith'] and Mary Kate Miller leading the offense. Tori Thomasson and [player_tooltip player_id='397721' first='Ryleigh' last='Belknap'] lead the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16th District</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cumberland County (19-8) vs. Monroe County at Clinton County</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers have put together a nice season with just one senior. Marleigh Mollo leads the Panthers with 768 assists with [player_tooltip player_id='734338' first='Madilyn' last='Hawley'] leading the offense with 331 kills. A number of players have contributed defensively with Kaylee Vibbert recording a team-high 221 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Falcons are in their third season in the district. Layni England leads the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>40th District</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>George Rogers Clark (17-10) at Montgomery County (23-12)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two teams split during the regular season winning on their home courts. That could favor the Indians, who are led by [player_tooltip player_id='477089' first='Sara' last='Zink'], Tia Terpening and [player_tooltip player_id='594516' first='Alexis' last='White'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cardinals have won the last two district championships and will not go down easily. They've handed top-seeded Bourbon County the lone loss in district seed play. [player_tooltip player_id='212395' first='Teigh' last='Yeast'] and [player_tooltip player_id='486676' first='Gracie' last='Abney'] are the leading hitters for the Cardinals with freshman [player_tooltip player_id='850203' first='Anna' last='Cooper'] stepping in at the setter spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Montgomery County missed the region tournament last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tuesday</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>32nd District</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Walton-Verona (15-12) at Grant County (17-12)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two battled each other hard in a 3-2 (25-27, 23-25, 25-23, 25-12, 15-12) Braves win in Dry Ridge on Sept. 18 and could do so on the same floor again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='479311' first='Izzy' last='Russell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='535203' first='Olivia' last='Ginn'] lead the Braves. [player_tooltip player_id='734313' first='Maggie' last='Howell'] has been a big contributor on defense and Joie Landrum has done some setting this season. Walton-Verona's serve reception has been suspect this season. The Braves have served 169 aces through 24 games led by 39 from [player_tooltip player_id='697458' first='Rylee' last='Akers'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Walton-Verona has tried to be more balanced this season. Winter Vandiver, [player_tooltip player_id='468553' first='Chloe' last='McIntosh'], [player_tooltip player_id='531314' first='Isabella' last='O'Brien'] and Macie Godwin have at least 103 kills each with Olivia Simpkins and Laken Fugate splitting the setting duties. Three Bearcats have at least 247 digs on the season. The Bearcats have 272 aces on the season led by 62 from McIntosh.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grant County has gone to the region tournament two years in a row. Walton-Verona last went in 2020.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>40th District </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lafayette (20-10) vs. Lexington Catholic (22-5)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two are literally right around the corner from each other making it a fun rivalry. They had a tight 3-2 (25-27, 25-14, 25-14, 24-26, 15-9) on Oct. 9 at Lafayette that the Knights won.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Generals have shown balance this season led by [player_tooltip player_id='484422' first='Audrey' last='Gossett']. [player_tooltip player_id='253865' first='Emma' last='Sorensen'] leads the defense and [player_tooltip player_id='397717' first='Elise' last='Trimble'] does a great job setting up hitters such as [player_tooltip player_id='269865' first='Madelyn' last='Blakey'] and Elena Butler.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["212395"],"_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-67131cdf38ed8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Yeast has been a consistent hitter for the Cardinals for two seasons in a row. She finds different ways to hit balls past blocks and toward open parts of the court. Yeast brings versatility to the Cardinals as a solid passer and server.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["697458"],"_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-67131cdf38f35"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Akers has a bright future for the Braves. She has a nice line drive serve and does a nice job running to balls and making crisp passes. Akers will improve with more experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["535251"],"_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-671321a530a17"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Smith has been a nice defender for the Bombers ever since she entered high school and has taken it to a new level this season. She consistently helps the Bombers start their attack. Alexander has also contributed serving. She has 561 digs and 26 aces on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["212388"],"_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-6713279f8c7bf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Avilez (pictured) brings a lot of versatility to the Knights. She constantly shuffles her feet on defense anticipating where balls are going then transitions to offense quickly. Balls carom off her arms to the setters with ease. Avilez has a great approach to the net putting a lot of power into her spikes. Avilez has 159 digs, 36 aces, 103 kills and 17 solo blocks on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->