All “A” Preview: Minus St. Henry, five teams that could win it

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams salivate at a chance to win this in-season tournament when the St. Henry Crusaders decide not to participate in it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is one of those years. Veteran head coach Maureen Kaiser said it is because the Louisville Invitational Tournament in Louisville is the same weekend as the All "A" State Tournament of Sept. 12 and 13.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The one member of the state's Dominant Five that has won all but one of the 46 overall state championships has won the tournament eight times including the last two years. The Crusaders have participated in the All "A" State Tournament 11 times since the first one in 2008. St. Henry finished runner-up in the tournament to Newport Central Catholic in 2008 and to Presentation in 2016. Beechwood knocked off St. Henry in the All "A" 9th Region Tournament in 2015 on the way to finishing state runner-up that year. After St. Henry, Presentation has won it three times and Holy Cross (Covington) has won it twice. Paintsville, Caldwell County, Newport Central Catholic and Holy Cross (Louisville) each have one crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Could another team rise up and win it for the first time this season or will another team add to the trophy case? These five have good cases to win it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Beechwood Tigers (25-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers have been young the last couple years, but rising fast with size and athleticism. The Tigers took a set from St. Henry in the first round of the 9th Region Tournament last fall and graduated no seniors off last year's team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers should be sound at first passes with the return of seniors Maggie Dawson and Piper Steinmetz and at setter with junior [player_tooltip player_id='456668' first='Skylr' last='Estep']'s return. Estep will set up a number of sound hitters in juniors [player_tooltip player_id='484442' first='Isabel' last='O'Brien'], [player_tooltip player_id='456263' first='Rachel' last='Lewandowski'], [player_tooltip player_id='484443' first='Macy' last='Armstrong'], Teegan Becker along with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='397726' first='Isabel' last='Bakker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='594624' first='Kendale' last='Lair']. Sophomore defensive specialist/right side [player_tooltip player_id='771298' first='Lynden' last='Davis'] could also contribute after helping the [program_tooltip program_id='771255' first='Crush' last='Volleyball Club'] 15 National team to an Asics 15 Classic national championship in Chicago in June. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='476283' first='Emma' last='Stewart'] could also make a contribution at right side or defensive specialist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Being in the same region with St. Henry, Beechwood's lone All "A" Region crown came in 2015. The Tigers will be favored to win the second one this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Holy Cross (Louisville) Cougars (23-17)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holy Cross may have graduated the dynamic twins in Trinity Ward (now at the University of Kentucky) and Tristen Ward, who were instrumental on defense helping the Cougars to the All "A" State runner-up finish against St. Henry last fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, the Cougars have plenty returning. Things start with junior dynamic defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='733407' first='Kaylee' last='Clemons'], who helped the Union UA 15 Black team to a third place in the USA volleyball 15 American Division and junior [player_tooltip player_id='484257' first='Leah' last='Evans'] looks to possibly take over the setter role after splitting with Hannah Carter last year, who graduated. The leading returning hitters are junior twins [player_tooltip player_id='768451' first='Brianne' last='Stoff'] and [player_tooltip player_id='768557' first='Delaney' last='Stoff'] along with senior [player_tooltip player_id='846523' first='Braelynn' last='Logsdon']. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='497557' first='Emma' last='Rosebush'] could also make a contribution this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holy Cross owns five 5th Region All "A" crowns. The Cougars have finished state runner-up five times winning the state title in 2009.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://poll.fm/15744501","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"crowdsignal","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-crowdsignal wp-block-embed-crowdsignal"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://poll.fm/15744501 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shelby Valley Kats (27-12)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shelby Valley appears to have picked up where it left off last season in the summer leagues. The Kats have a great rhythm around one of the state's most dynamic players in [player_tooltip player_id='535230' first='Miley' last='Riddle']. Riddle is solid in every aspect of the game with tremendous improvement on her blocking. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='612248' first='Talynn' last='Johnson'] also does some setting. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='740604' first='Makaya' last='Price'] is the libero with sophomore Aaron Elkins and senior Kandyce Trump also providing nice defense and serving. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='741700' first='Sahnia' last='Linton'] is turning into a good hitting option for the Kats with Trump and [player_tooltip player_id='535231' first='Ryleigh' last='Perry'] also making strides.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shelby Valley won the All "A" 15th Region for the first time in school history in the fall then drove to the All "A" State semifinals. The Kats also won the 59th District and drove to the 15th Region semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eminence Warriors (25-7)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors have the chance to have a special season this year with a number of players playing high-level club volleyball in the spring. They have the dynamic 6-0 freshman [player_tooltip player_id='780582' first='Bailey' last='Hegg'], who produces from the middle and the outside, senior 5-10 [player_tooltip player_id='790727' first='Lauren' last='Thomas'] and junior 5-8 [player_tooltip player_id='768283' first='Brooklyn' last='Smith'] in the middle and on the outside with senior 5-8 [player_tooltip player_id='750417' first='Rylee' last='Shupert'] and 5-8 junior all-around [player_tooltip player_id='484434' first='Bryce' last='Berry']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hegg played for the KIVA 14 Red team and Berry played for the KIVA 16 Black team with Shupert playing for the Union UA 17 Black team. Smith played for the MAVA 16 Select team and Thomas played for the MAVA 17 Elite team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eminence does have a question mark at setter with the graduation of Shannon Tucker. Junior Caroline Kirschman returns after leading the team in digs with 249. Kirschman and Berry finished second on the team behind Tucker with 29 assists last year and freshman Emery Pierce had 26. The Warriors will be able to attack a number of different ways if they figure things out there and with first touches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eminence last made the All "A" State Tournament in 2022. The Warriors have not made it past the Championship Bracket Quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bethlehem (17-11)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bethlehem graduated two solid passers, but does return both setters and four of the top five kills leaders from last year's team that drove to the 5th Region semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two setters are the sensational junior [player_tooltip player_id='756992' first='Matti' last='Deopere'] and senior [player_tooltip player_id='752886' first='Allie' last='Thompson']. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='603333' first='Alexis' last='Lanz'] led the team in kills last year with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='781050' first='Kate' last='Lancaster'], [player_tooltip player_id='781053' first='Abby' last='Logsdon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='782755' first='Aubrey' last='Spalding'] also providing options.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Banshees last won the All "A" 5th Region in 2022. They finished state runner-up in the tournament in 2009 and 2011.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["781053"],"_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-687299c8eb0ab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Logsdon (pictured) is vocal on the court and her teammates respect that. Logsdon continuously puts the right amount of pop in her hits to put balls down. Logsdon can hit balls off blocks and out of bounds. Logsdon hits line and adds in a tough cross-court hit. Logsdon had 191 kills to help Bethlehem go 17-11 on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["741700"],"_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-687299c8eb10c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Linton helps take heat off Riddle offensively with her presence in the middle. Linton pounds balls to all six zones on the court, mixing in soft hits so defenses to do not key on one spot. Linton is especially helpful on blocks, making sure the defensive specialists do not wear down. She improved during club season going against strong competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["476283"],"_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-6872985a80b60"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stewart is a mentally tough player. Stewart better the ball on the next play after a mistake. Stewart takes back sets and deposits balls to different parts of the court. Stewart mixes in hard and soft hits. Stewart is also a sound passer and has a tough jump serve that keeps teams out of rhythm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["497557"],"_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-687299c8eb187"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rosebush is turning into a nice option for the Cougars. Rosebush takes good swings when the team is out of system. Rosebush turns away setover attempts. Rosebush hits line, back line and can hit soft ones to the middle adjusting to where defenses are playing her. Rosebush can also hit off blockers when needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["790727"],"_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-6872904c9aa19"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Thomas gives the Warriors size and athleticism in the middle. Thomas is tough on the quicks. Thomas also has great form on her blocking. Thomas should get a number of one-on-one opportunities with the talent around her in the front row. Thomas had 143 kills and 113 blocks last fall, helping the Warriors go 25-7 and make it to the 8th Region quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Note from the Writer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mike Graham has been writing for Prep Dig for one year and a half and has enjoyed getting to know the volleyball scenes in both Kentucky and Ohio. If you liked the story, please copy and paste to X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. You may also follow us at @prepdigkentucky or @prepdigoh on Instagram in addition to @PrepDigKy or @PrepDigOH on X. If you feel someone in Kentucky or Ohio needs coverage or even have feedback on the Kentucky rankings, please email Mike at pnmikeg@yahoo.com. You may also follow him on X @GMCgrah or Instagram @g.michaelgraham. Subscriptions give you access to exclusive content. For a 30% discount, enter code graham30 at checkout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->