Class 2A Preview: Fifth different winner could emerge

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In four years as an in-season tournament, the Class 2A state tournament has seen four different winners in Christian Academy-Louisville, Nelson County, Lexington Catholic and Logan County. Another one could emerge this year. These five among others could win it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://poll.fm/15767194","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/15767194 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Christian Academy-Louisville (32-5)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Centurions could repeat led by the dynamic sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='601632' first='Kayleigh' last='Rogers']. CAL needs to find another setter as the result of graduation, but another sound hitter in junior Kyle Roy returns. Senior defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='800435' first='Katrina' last='Oswald'] returns along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='484282' first='Mia' last='Boyd'] and [player_tooltip player_id='745824' first='Lexi' last='Schaffner']. Sophomore transfer [player_tooltip player_id='779974' first='Gina' last='Sageser'] should help take heat off Rogers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>North Oldham (28-10)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mustangs are looking to reload and be even better in Brian Jones' second season back as head coach. Things start with sisters [player_tooltip player_id='212386' first='Reagan' last='Baxter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='724992' first='Berkeley' last='Baxter'] in addition to senior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='828395' first='Vita' last='Sensenbrenner']. [player_tooltip player_id='724992' first='Berkeley' last='Baxter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='479310' first='Riley' last='Adams'] will set them up along with [player_tooltip player_id='484260' first='Lilah' last='Anthony']. [player_tooltip player_id='752339' first='Kayla' last='Dickhaut'] and [player_tooltip player_id='780301' first='Alex' last='Cannon'] have also shown a lot of promise during club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First touches will again be key for the Mustangs. [player_tooltip player_id='547082' first='Ashlyn' last='Thompson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='752630' first='Raleigh' last='Becker'] look to step into those roles nicely.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lexington Catholic (26-7)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights won the first 11th Region crown in program history and are favored to do it again this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They have developed some solid depth in the club season and hope to put it on full display this year. [player_tooltip player_id='486906' first='Ella' last='Rose Gentry'], [player_tooltip player_id='768422' first='Elise' last='Millard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='741875' first='Maddy' last='Warner'] start things with sound first passes to dynamic setter [player_tooltip player_id='603863' first='Charlotte' last='Hall']. Hall will be able to get a number of players involved such as [player_tooltip player_id='535172' first='Miller' last='Duncan'] in the middle and the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='603862' first='Shay' last='Pope'], [player_tooltip player_id='212388' first='Payton' last='Avilez'], [player_tooltip player_id='212387' first='Ella' last='Blackburn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='768460' first='Madeline' last='Sisk'] pounding things from the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Boyle County (30-10)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rebels drove all the way to the 12th Region title game last year. They did lose some key players to graduation in Kendra Christopher and setter Gracee Teague. However, power hitting senior [player_tooltip player_id='828471' first='Charli' last='Grubbs'] returns after pounding out 411 kills and 104 aces along with senior [player_tooltip player_id='791803' first='Ashlen' last='Young'], who could take over at setter. Two junior hitters in [player_tooltip player_id='816674' first='Maleeah' last='Smith'] and Reece Klosterman return to take heat off Grubbs. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='603627' first='Lilly' last='Turner'] could also make an impact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Johnson Central (27-7)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When dialed in and focused, the Eagles are tough. Head coach Jim DeLong said they could be deeper this season even with the graduation of several key seniors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='800335' first='Carrigan' last='Ratliff'] and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='781733' first='Leah' last='Hall'] return to lead on defense. The Eagles need a new setter, but sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='781608' first='Payton' last='Duncan'] looks ready to take over that role. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='831152' first='Chloe' last='Reed'] and [player_tooltip player_id='781727' first='Hannah' last='Lakes'] look to pound balls from the outside and 6-1 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='762073' first='Macie' last='Clark'] looks ready to control things in the middle. The likes of [player_tooltip player_id='814102' first='Jacee' last='Baker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='788813' first='Teaghan' last='Casebolt'] could also contribute.</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":["745824"],"_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-6876f539ddb0e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Schaffner (pictured) benefitted from a lot of touches during club season and it should help the Centurions this fall. She hustles on every play and sends free balls over with a purpose. Her floater serve gives opponents fits.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["791803"],"_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-6876f539ddb68"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Young is trying to turn into a sound all-around player for the Rebels. She makes the simple first touches then quickly gets into offensive mode if needed. She makes good out of system swings. Young has tough line drive serves and sets up teammates well. Young had 185 digs, 115 assists and 44 aces last fall, helping Boyle County go 30-10, win the 45th District crown and drive to the 12th Region title game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["752339"],"_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-6876f539ddbcd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dickhaut has the chance to give the Mustangs some power on the outside and open things up in the middle. Her arm swing is coming along. The lefty is tough to defend with her unique angles. Dickhaut can tap balls to the side and pound them across the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["603862"],"_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-6876f7e9602f1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pope draws attention on the outside putting teammates in solid one-on-one situations at the net. Pope is versatile pounding balls from the middle and the pins. Pope makes sound passes and is a sound blocker helping the Knights control the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["479280"],"_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-687706af39f33"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ratliff does a good job on first touches setting up the solid Johnson Central offense that has some size up front. Ratliff quickly gets in position near the front to guard against blocked balls after those first passes. Ratliff uses her range to patrol the court with authority.</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 -->