Scott ends state tournament win drought in dramatic fashion

<!-- 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>Only one of the eight semi-state games went a full five games Monday, but the winning team in it used some experience in those type of games to pull it out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 12th Region champion West Jessamine Colts had the host Scott Eagles down 2-1 and on their heels. However, the Eagles dug deep using the home crowd to their advantage and pulled off an exciting 3-2 (25-16, 14-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-12) victory. Scott snapped a five-game losing streak in the state tournament dating back to a 3-0 (25-17, 25-10, 25-7) state quarterfinal win over Christian County on Nov. 8, 2014 at Valley High School in Louisville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles had been involved in just two five-game matches all season. They lost at Simon Kenton, 3-2 (23-25, 25-15, 19-25, 25-19, 15-12) on Oct. 2 then won a 3-2 (22-25, 25-17, 20-25, 25-19, 15-4) battle at South Dearborn (Indiana) five days later.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Jessamine finished the season 1-3 in five-game battles. The Colts lost to East Jessamine and Great Crossing during the regular season in 3-2 battles before holding off Southwestern, 3-2 (25-8, 25-15, 23-25, 15-25, 15-11) in the 12th Region semifinals at home on Oct. 30.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scott (30-11 overall) has displayed power all season with the tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='212393' first='Milyn' last='Minor'] and [player_tooltip player_id='477092' first='Brooklyn' last='Helm']. The two had great swings again along with [player_tooltip player_id='604595' first='Payton' last='Grigsby'] and [player_tooltip player_id='586599' first='Morgan' last='Justice']. [player_tooltip player_id='500587' first='Ryann' last='Grigsby'] had a good game setting and blocking at the net with [player_tooltip player_id='604595' first='Payton' last='Grigsby'] and Minor serving some key aces. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='586647' first='Jaeda' last='Menfee'] provided some big blocks along with Minor to help libero [player_tooltip player_id='477094' first='Elise' last='Manhardt'] and others record big digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two returning starters from last year in setter [player_tooltip player_id='477143' first='Callaway' last='Marsh'] and libero [player_tooltip player_id='588569' first='Sienna' last='Schantz'] once again did a good job leading the way for the Colts (24-17). [player_tooltip player_id='603652' first='Ashlyn' last='Crutcher'] reached double figures in kills with [player_tooltip player_id='608158' first='Taylor' last='Snowden'], [player_tooltip player_id='505929' first='Kaylee' last='Rexroad']-Hardin, [player_tooltip player_id='523963' first='Dani' last='Long'] and Tori Delang taking some good swings. Snowden and Riley Cissell had good games digging up balls with Long and Delang landing some big aces. The young Colts will grow from this experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles came on firing on all cylinders in the first game. West Jessamine could not stop Minor, who landed seven kills. Scott led by 11 twice before winning on a West Jessamine hitting error.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Colts got into a better rhythm in the second game. Marsh found Snowden a couple times then a Long tip kill gave the Colts an 18-9 lead. Crutcher ended the second game with a kill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scott started the third game with a 6-3, but the Colts responded after a timeout. The used a 5-0 run to go up 15-9 when Marsh landed two aces. Scott cut the margin to 15-13 until the Colts went on a 3-0 run to go up 18-13 on an [player_tooltip player_id='774738' first='Ava' last='Smith'] ace. The Colts built a 24-20 lead before Justice landed two kills to cut it to 24-22. West Jessamine won it when Scott served one into the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Colts looked to put the game away in the fourth game building a 13-7 lead after several Scott net hits. However, Justice responded with two kills and Manhardt had an ace to make it 13-11 Colts. Down, 14-11, the Eagles ran off five in a row with Helm blocking one and putting another one off blocks to give the Eagles a 16-14 lead. The Colts did tie the game at 20 on a Snowden ace and 21 when Long landed a block. After [player_tooltip player_id='604595' first='Payton' last='Grigsby'] landed a line kill, she landed two aces to give the Eagles a 24-21 lead. After a net serve, Minor smacked one to the back row to give the Eagles the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles scored the first four points of the fifth game and did not look back. [player_tooltip player_id='500587' first='Ryann' last='Grigsby'] had a block and Minor a tip kill in the run. The Colts cut the lead to one four times, but could not tie it. Up 13-12, Scott finished it when Helm stood in the back row and sent one to the West Jessamine back row that landed. Manhardt then finished it with a hard serve that came back to the net that Minor put down to finish off the match.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Colts graduate four seniors from the team. They are Schantz, Marsh, Anna Boikov and Zoey Spencer. The seniors still helped the Colts extend their streak of consecutive region championships to six and helped West Jessamine make it to the state semifinals last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stat Leaders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kills</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='212393' first='Milyn' last='Minor'], Scott - 26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='603652' first='Ashlyn' last='Crutcher'], West Jessamine - 18</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='477092' first='Brooklyn' last='Helm'], Scott - 17</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='586599' first='Morgan' last='Justice'], Scott - 9</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='604595' first='Payton' last='Grigsby'], Scott - 8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='608158' first='Taylor' last='Snowden'], West Jessamine - 7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='779174' first='Tori' last='Daleng'], West Jessamine - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='523963' first='Dani' last='Long'], West Jessamine - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='505929' first='Kaylee' last='Rexroad']-Hardin, West Jessamine - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assists</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='500587' first='Ryann' last='Grigsby'], Scott - 46</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='477143' first='Callaway' last='Marsh'], West Jessamine - 35</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Digs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='588569' first='Sienna' last='Schantz'], West Jessamine - 24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='477094' first='Elise' last='Manhardt'], Scott - 23</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marsh - 19</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Snowden - 10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aces</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minor - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='604595' first='Payton' last='Grigsby'] - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marsh - 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blocks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='500587' first='Ryann' last='Grigsby'] - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='586647' first='Jaeda' last='Menfee'], Scott - 5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minor - 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Daleng - 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Long - 2</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":["212393"],"_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":715577,"_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-67299d9eb440a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Minor (pictured) came into the game determined and focuses and proceeded to play like it. Minor consistently found ways around the Colt hitters putting balls to the ground. When the Colts made adjustments on her, Minor calmly found other ways to get the job done. Minor landed some big aces and blocks, helping out the Scott defense. Minor finished the game smacking down an overpassed serve. Minor said the teams were evenly matched and the Colts made them take different shots. Minor added that the 3-2 games they've been involved in gave them endurance for games like this.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["477092"],"_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":715578,"_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-67299d9eb4470"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Helm may have hit some balls short and into the net, but she does not let things like that bother her. Helm responded with some big kills in the fourth and fifth games. Helm hit a line drive standing on the back row to the West Jessamine back line that landed for a huge kill in that fifth game. Helm said she shrugs off mistakes noting that the body follows the mind.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["477094"],"_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":715581,"_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-67299d9eb44bb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Manhardt did a great job once again positioning herself to dig up tough balls. Manhardt read blocks well and anticipated balls well to help the Eagles earn key points. Manhardt credited Scott's blocking game for taking a lot of stress off the defense. Manhardt said the team made some big adjustments in the fourth game then came out in the fifth with the mentality of having nothing to lose. Manhardt set up the game's final point with a strong serve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["586647"],"_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-67299d9eb44fa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Menfee comes into the front row and does a good job getting her hands on balls allowing defenders time to pick then up and start the Scott offense. She played a big role in slowing down the West Jessamine hitters that light things up in the second and third games. Menfee said blocking is big because balls go down on the other side without the team having to run a play. Menfee added big blocks can affect the other team mentally.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["477143"],"_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":715585,"_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-67299d9eb4543"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">West Jessamine could not ask for a better leader than Marsh this year. She constantly directs her teammates on the court and had a hand in about everything in the game trying to keep West Jessamine's season alive. She especially did well chasing down balls and setting up her teammates to successfully put balls on the other side of the net. Marsh takes that great character off the court trying to keep the outstanding culture that's been built at West Jessamine over the years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["603652"],"_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":715589,"_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-67299f30211a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Crutcher is one of the many young hitters that blossomed as the season went along for the Colts and that experience will pay dividends next year. Crutcher does a great job rising up to the net and smacking balls down from the middle and the pins. She also helps form solid blocks at the net. Crutcher could turn into a dominant hitter in the 12th Region next year with hard work during the club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->