12th Region Preview: West Jessamine brings experienced hitters

One year ago, the West Jessamine Colts came into the season with an experienced setter and libero to guide inexperienced varsity hitters. They ended up clicking and winning the eighth region title in nine years, overcoming a huge challenge from Southwestern in the region semifinals.   This year is the opposite as the hitters come back with experience. But if the Bluegrass Games are any indication, the Colts will be just fine. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='774738' first='Ava' last='Smith'] had a good club spring and stepped into the libero spot and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='755065' first='Taylor' last='Snowden'] has stepped in at setter. Senior Riley Cissell and junior [player_tooltip player_id='801517' first='Delaney' last='Dix'] are hoping to contribute at defensive specialist.   Junior middle blocker/outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='603652' first='Ashlyn' last='Crutcher'] returns after leading the team in kills. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='779174' first='Tori' last='Daleng'] is back at middle blocker. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='523963' first='Dani' last='Long'] is a right side hitter with junior [player_tooltip player_id='505929' first='Kaylee' last='Rexroad'] taking swings in the middle and outside. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='851950' first='Kayla' last='Avent'] will add swings on the outside. Head coach Bill Bird said the Colts are still young, but going to improve. He noted the staff has a lot to work with, especially with many of them taking advantage of the local and nearby clubs in Lexington.   West Jessamine hosts Lafayette on Aug. 21 to start the season.   45th District   Boyle County (30-10)   The Rebels had a strong hitting team last year and drove to the region title game, but could not keep up with the Colts.   Boyle County returns one of the strongest hitters in the region in senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='479316' first='Charli' last='Grubbs']. Kendra Christopher took her talents down the road to Centre College, but two other strong hitters in junior middle/outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='816674' first='Maleeah' last='Smith'] and junior right side Reece Klosterman return. Junior right side [player_tooltip player_id='603627' first='Lilly' last='Turner'] is also a promising hitter. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='791803' first='Ashlen' last='Young'] looks to step into a bigger setting role this year as a setter.   Boyle County hosts Corbin on Tuesday to start the season.   Garrard County (12-19)   The Lions made it to the 12th Region Tournament for the second year in a row. Senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='835402' first='Madi' last='Combs'] is back after an outstanding junior season in kills and digs. Garrard County head coach also said to look out for senior libero Skye Board, junior middle blocker Grace Lockard and senior outside/middle blocker Emily Clark.   Head coach Sam Torres said serve receive and offensive systems have been points of focus in the off-season. Torres said the team has four finishers and the serve receive is working well together.   Garrard County opens the season at Trinity Christian on Tuesday.   Danville Christian (9-13)   The Warriors had just one senior last year in setter Bliss Swabey.   Danville Christian return senior versatile player Grace Meyer. Seniors McKenzie Dailey, [player_tooltip player_id='841747' first='Anneliese' last='Doty'] and Cambria Jacobs had big years passing the ball. Doty also made some waves with her blocks at the net.   Danville Christian travels to Casey County on Tuesday.   Danville (9-21)   The Admirals hope to take some huge steps forward this year with the return of the versatile junior middle/outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='811065' first='Anye' last='Thompson'] and junior setter/defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='786982' first='Macee' last='Vest'].   Sophomore Addi Funkhouser is a key returning player on defense. Head coach Kayleigh Hunstad also said to watch out for senior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='810183' first='Abree' last='Ganns'], sophomore outside hitter Petra Hawkins, sophomore opposite hitter Xyanne Wilkinson and junior defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='834283' first='Kinlee' last='Ruckel'].   Danville travels to Berea on Monday to start the season.   Lincoln County (0-28)   The Patriots hit rock bottom last season only winning two sets all season.   That's where 2019 graduate Savannah Smith comes into play. The former middle blocker brought on a former teammate in Jasmine Whited as an assistant coach. The Patriots won 22 and 23 games in addition to two straight 45th District crowns when they were juniors and seniors, respectively. Lincoln County lost in the region semifinals their senior year. Smith said the culture has already taken a turn for the better.   "I can see the joy for the game growing on my players' faces again. I can see the community getting more involved due to them knowing Coach Jas and I as alumni and the success our team had when we played. We actually have fun at practice together now while also working hard. They know that Coach Jas and I are serious and want the best for them, but I think it started because we built trust with them. They realized we loved and cared about them and that we also had a high IQ of the game from playing in college and from other knowledgeable coaches. Most of my girls want to stay late and work hard to get better. They ask questions because they know we have answers to help them and if we don't, we learn them quickly."   Smith added the players have seen improvement in the summer and it adds to their motivation because they feel what the team is doing is working. Smith said the team is young and the staff is rebuilding, but she has no doubt the team will grow stronger than ever in the coming seasons.   Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='838198' first='Audrey' last='Foster'] is back to lead the offense. The other two seniors are Shelby Smith and [player_tooltip player_id='833099' first='Jaycee' last='Ruckel']. Coach Smith describes Shelby Smith as an consistent and talented hitter anywhere on the floor, adding she has the IQ to put balls where needed for kills. Coach Smith describes Ruckel as a talented utility player that plays right side as a strong hitter, but can also play defense like a libero. Coach Smith said Ruckel has the heart and grit to keep balls off the floor anyway possible.   Lincoln County travels to Mercer County on Monday.   Kentucky school for the Deaf (0-6)   The Colonels had two seniors on the team last year. They increased that to three to go with four juniors.   The Colonels travel to Frankfort Christian on Tuesday to start the season.   46th District   Trinity Christian (19-11)   The Titans put together a sound season behind the play of senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='397725' first='Claire' last='Connor'] setting up sophomore outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='829443' first='Amelia' last='Stanton'] and Elizabeth Battaile. Senior Brooke Bridgewater is also back.   Head coach Chad Gray has two seniors and no juniors to work with and a lot of sophomores. Gray described the team as young but talented. Gray said playing to the potential will be the team's biggest key to success, knowing the players belong on the court.   Trinity hosts Garrard County on Tuesday to start the season.   East Jessamine (11-13)   The Jaguars beat West Jessamine last year for the first time since 2010 with a 3-2 victory. East Jessamine made some strides in Abby Coofer's first season as head coach.   Senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='778433' first='Kaitlyn' last='Cadle'] returns to make sound passes along with senior Mylie Young at defensive specialist. Young could do more setting this year with the graduation of last year's setter. Sophomore setter/outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='762100' first='Abby' last='Lawson'] showed some promise during club season.   East Jessamine hosts Tates Creek on Tuesday.   Mercer County (13-11)   The Titans may have a tough road in front of them, but they get senior setter Grayson Perry back after she could not play last year as the result of an injury. Senior 6-1 middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='535245' first='Anne' last='Whitenack'] gives the Titans size at the net. The libero is senior Addisen Shepherd with seniors Ralasia Piazza and Madi Collier giving the Titans sound options on the outside.   Head coach Lynn Flach said things start with first touches. Flach said if the team passes well, everything falls into place. Flach noted hustle and communication are also keys to success.   Mercer County hosts Lincoln County on Monday to start the season.   Burgin (3-13)   The Bulldogs did manage to string together consecutive wins once last season. Sophomore setter Macy Greenleaf and senior outside/middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='749610' first='Kaydance' last='Logue'] gives the Bulldogs a nice hitting option.   Burgin hosts Cornerstone Christian on Aug. 21.   47th District   Pulaski County (24-12)   The Maroons once again ruled the district and made it back to the region semifinals. They graduated eight seniors, but still return the solid junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='535242' first='Olivia' last='Travis']. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='779168' first='Sammie' last='Blevins'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='834833' first='Lilee' last='Todd'] give Travis good targets on the outside. Head coach McKenzie McCollum-Mullins said senior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='815069' first='Kaylee' last='Kissinger'] and sophomore libero Lakelynn Dykes are also players to watch.   Mullins said the biggest key to success is sharing a unified mindset. The Maroons have set clear goals and are committed to pushing for success in the postseason. Mullins said the energy, effort and willingness to improve in practice has stood out at this point just before the season starts.   Pulaski County hosts Wayne Count on Aug. 21.   Casey County (18-16)   Lindsey Perkins guided the Rebels to the region tournament for the first time since 2016 and a 12-win improvement from the previous season.   Two of the top three kills leaders last year in seniors Elizabeth Forbes and outside hitter/middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='212252' first='Amy' last='Lee'] are back. Perkins also said to look out for Aslan Wethington and Morgan Weddle. Perkins said keys to building off last season are reflecting on last year's strengths and areas for growth, setting clear and progressive goals for the season and keeping the hunger alive.   Casey County hosts Danville Christian on Tuesday.   Rockcastle County (15-15)   The Rockets made it back to .500 last season. Good all-around play from senior outside hitter/defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='800633' first='Hannah' last='King']. Senior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='810464' first='Aisha' last='Njie'] and senior outside hitter/defensive specialists [player_tooltip player_id='830500' first='Brilie' last='Bussell'] and Addalyn King also return.   Rockcastle County travels to Lincoln County on Tuesday.   Somerset (10-21)   LaDawna Tucker takes over a program that could not make it back to the region tournament for the third straight season. Junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='809428' first='Reagan' last='Childers'], junior setter Charleston Girdler and junior opposite hitter [player_tooltip player_id='535194' first='Sara' last='Tucker'] came over from Somerset Christian with her. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='770381' first='Sarah' last='McBride'] returns after a sound season passing and hitting last year for the Jumpers. Senior Addison Fleshman will play a key role at defensive specialist.   Coach Tucker also listed 5-9 lefty freshman Kodi Easter and versatile freshman defensive specialist Haley Bragg as players to watch. Bragg will start at defensive specialist, but Coach Tucker said she could be a libero in the future.   Somerset takes on Cumberland Christian Home School on Monday to start the season.   48th District   Wayne County (20-11).   The Cardinals have had the same head coach in Sandra Baker for a while, but have not been able to get out of the district tournament since 2021. That could change this year with two-year starting sophomore setter [player_tooltip player_id='749482' first='Hannah' last='Denney'] coming back and setting the likes of senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='594477' first='Addison' last='Edwards'], sophomore middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='749748' first='Harlow' last='Clark'] and sophomore outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='611973' first='Peri' last='Guinn'].   Those four played together on the South Central Sparks during club season. They got to know each other better as a result.   The Cardinals travel to Clinton County on Tuesday.   Southwestern (29-10)   The Warriors are dealing with a complete change in identity with the graduation of seven seniors from last year's district champion and region semifinalist team. Southwestern took West Jessamine to five games before losing.   Southwestern returns just one starter in junior right side hitter Andrea West. Sophomore defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='753354' first='Ella' last='Baker'] looks to take over the libero spot. Senior Addison Baldwin will fill in a middle blocker role. Head coach Mitzi Jones said it's a matter of experience as one starter returns from a team that played six-time defending region champion Rockcastle County in the postseason.   Southwestern travels to Somerset Christian on Tuesday.   Somerset Christian (24-11)   Noble Stafford takes over a program that lost in the first round of the region tournament one year after winning the district crown and driving to the region championship game. Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='212350' first='Olivia' last='Atwood'] is back after playing at another school last year. Junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='753664' first='Callie' last='Davis'] has stepped into that spot. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='846737' first='Caroline' last='Mounce'] will play either setter or defensive specialist and senior Elise Meigs takes swings from the outside. Stafford also said to watch out for junior middle blocker Catherine Hardy.   Stafford said he hopes to utilize all of the offensive weapons. That starts with scrappy defense and transitioning it to the offense. Stafford said Somerset Christian has so much talent that's not been tapped into. If the players can find that confidence within themselves, they will be a fun group to watch.   Somerset Christian hosts Southwestern on Tuesday.   McCreary Central (16-16)   Wins may not always come easy foe the Raiders, but head coach Amy Goins and staff do what they can to get the most out of the players.   Goins said communication and being intentional during play will be keys to success for the Raiders this fall. She said the Raiders have two brand new setters with one being an eighth grader. As a result, the Raiders are trying to adjust to them, but a lot of sound offensive players are returning.   Senior [player_tooltip player_id='817871' first='Raylee' last='Wilson'] in the middle and on the outside is back after leading the team in kills last year. Sophomore outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='833515' first='Kahlei' last='Clark'] finished second in kills. Goins also said junior middle hitter [player_tooltip player_id='811598' first='Bailey' last='Terry'] is a phenomenal athlete and person and sophomore outside/right side hitter Layla Silcox is a great server. Junior libero/defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='783569' first='Madison' last='Ryan'] starts things off with good passes.   McCreary Central travels to Williamsburg on Tuesday to start the season.   Record in State Tournament Since 2003 when state tournament split from eight to 16 regions: 15-22   Most Region Crowns since 2003: West Jessamine, Southwestern with eight each.   Players to Watch    Smith has stepped into the libero role nicely. Smith handles it like a crafty veteran consistently making sound passes. She consistently beats balls to their spots and makes the routine two to three-point passes. Smith also does a good job with net protection.     Young looks to take on more of a setter role this year since the main one graduated. She is a consistent passer. Young has great reflexes trying to keep plays alive. Young had one play where she dove to her left, got an arm on the ball and sent the ball to the near corner for a dig kill. Young adds in a nice sinking line drive serve.     Stanton does a lot for the Titans this past fall as a freshman. Stanton makes smooth transitions from defense to offense after making good first touches. Stanton takes solid swings for Trinity Christian. She also has great timing on her blocks.     Girdler is displaying great hustle for the Jumpers so far. Girdler gets a number of players involved within the system. She also does a good job making things happen out of system. Girdler can dive to her sides if needed to keep plays alive.     Ryan just may be flying under the radar in the 12th Region. Ryan displays great court awareness for the Raiders. She watches the ball at all times, anticipates where they are going then goes full out after the balls, consistently making the simple passes. Ryan only dives when necessary. With improved ball control, Ryan can turn into a solid defensive specialist for the Raiders. Ryan does both bump and overhead passes well. She quickly took steps away from the net and dug up a tough hit from the back row that was headed to the corner off the hand of one of the state's best hitters. Ryan also has tough serves. Ryan said she's working on trying to get her jump serve as consistent as possible.    Note from the Writer   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.

One year ago, the West Jessamine Colts came into the season with an experienced setter and libero to guide inexperienced varsity hitters. They ended up clicking and winning the eighth region title in nine years, overcoming a huge challenge from Southwestern in the region semifinals.