4th Region Preview: Bowling Green loads up for deep run
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The Bowling Green Purples knew they had a solid team coming back this season hoping to not only make it back to the state tournament, but drive even further.
They've won three of the last four region championships and drove to the state quarterfinals last year. Bowling Green started off slow and could not recover in a 3-0 loss to eventual state runner-up Mercy, finishing the season 34-7.
They showed off their size, athleticism and net defense in the Bluegrass Games driving to the Championship Flight final 16 before losing in three to Lexington Catholic. The senior 6-4 middle blocker and Louisville commit
Amirra Bailey
Amirra
Bailey
6'4" | MB
Bowling Green | 2026
State
#160
Nation
KY
is a once in a generation talent the Purples hope to take full advantage of one last season.
One key for Bowling Green is to take attention off Bailey and the Purples have a number of hitters to do that. Sophomore 6-0
Chayse Gilliland
Chayse
Gilliland
6'1" | OH/S
Bowling Green | 2028
State
#78
Nation
KY
is back from an injury and looking really sharp. Seniors
Morgan Rockrohr
Morgan
Rockrohr
5'9" | OH
Bowling Green | 2026
State
KY
and
Madison Taylor
Madison
Taylor
5'8" | OH
Bowling Green | 2026
KY
will also take big swings from the outside. Junior
Layah Britt
Layah
Britt
5'9" | MB
Bowling Green | 2027
KY
will also garner a lot of attention in the middle, but Carver said they need to step up defensively. The 6-1 freshman outside/opposite hitter
Hadley Beard
Hadley
Beard
6'1" | OH/DS/L
Bowling Green | 2029
KY
gives the Purples size
Things still start with sound first touches. Senior Olivia Arauz has stepped into the libero role and junior
JoEllen Marshall
JoEllen
Marshall
5'7" | S
Bowling Green | 2027
State
KY
returns as the setter. Defensive specialists
Katie Yarbrough
Katie
Yarbrough
5'0" | DS/L
Bowling Green | 2029
KY
and AbbyKate Garcia will play big roles in the back row. The sophomore setting tandem of McCracken County transfer
Reese Romine
Reese
Romine
5'8" | S
Bowling Green | 2028
State
KY
and Emory Duvall could step in to solidify Bowling Green's 6-2 offense.
Carver said he's enjoyed watching the Purples become a team. He noted competition in strong when the compete in practice, but they are learning how to become a team at the same time by making each other better.
Bowling Green starts the season at Mercy on Aug. 18.
13th District
Logan County (20-15)
Life after Aubrey Sears begins for the Cougars with Steve Lyne returning to the sidelines.
Lyne said it's vital to involve everyone, especially since teams don't replace talents like Sears. Senior outside hitter
Caroline Ham
Caroline
Ham
OH
Logan County | 2026
KY
, junior right side
Ashley McIntosh
Ashley
McIntosh
5'10" | RS
Logan County | 2027
State
KY
and junior middle blocker
Emily McIntosh
Emily
McIntosh
5'10" | MB
Logan County | 2027
KY
are players the Cougars will build around.
Logan County hosts Bowling Green on Aug. 21 to start the season.
Todd County Central (18-17)
The Rebels could be the district favorites with the return of all but three seniors. Senior all-around
Allyssa Wofford
Allyssa
Wofford
5'7" | DS/L
Todd County Central | 2026
State
KY
and junior outside hitter Aubri Penick lead the way. Senior setter Shelby Holderman also returns along with a key defensive specialist in junior
Chloe Collins
Chloe
Collins
5'2" | DS/L
Todd County Central | 2027
KY
.
Todd County Central travels to Muhlenberg County on Aug. 19 to start the season.
Franklin-Simpson (17-12)
The Wildcats welcome in a new head coach in Jaime Pennington, but return a sound core.
Senior Annsleigh Bonner returns at middle blocker along with senior
Caydence Johnson
Caydence
Johnson
5'5" | OH/DS/L
Franklin-Simpson | 2026
State
KY
on the outside and at defensive specialist. Senior defensive specialist
Julia Warren
Julia
Warren
5'2" | DS/L
Franklin-Simpson | 2026
State
KY
and senior setter
Aubrey Sams
Aubrey
Sams
5'6" | S
Franklin-Simpson | 2026
State
KY
are back along with a promising defensive specialist in Addi Jo Lanham.
The Wildcats host Metcalfe County on Aug. 18 to start the season.
Russellville (0-13)
The Panthers currently find themselves trying to find wins period. They are on a 39-game losing streak dating back to Sept. 22, 2022 in a 2-0 home win over Caverna. Key returning players are seniors Ava Farmer, Leah Buffa Leah Buffa DS/L Russellville | 2026 KY and Mya Rangel.
Russellville hosts Warren Central on Aug. 25 to start the season.
14th District
South Warren (21-12)
The Spartans showed they can make some noise in the region with a nice run to the Championship Flight semifinals in the Bluegrass Tournament last weekend.
Head coach Erika Wenger said team chemistry will be a huge factor and it showed in that run. Wenger said keeping energy high, communication and defense will also play big roles like they did at Bluegrass Games. The Spartans beat Collins and Mercy in the Championship Flight before losing to Elizabethtown in the semifinals.
Senior libero
Kenzie Garrison
Kenzie
Garrison
5'3" | DS/L
South Warren | 2026
State
KY
along with junior
Arayah Fuller
Arayah
Fuller
5'4" | S/DS/L
SW | 2027
KY
, sophomore Ashlyn Carroll, freshmen
Alivia Grubb
Alivia
Grubb
5'4" | DS/L
South Warren | 2029
KY
and
Piper Gregory
Piper
Gregory
5'2" | DS/L
South Warren | 2029
KY
gave the Spartans and senior setter Daniella Newman sound first touches. Fuller could also set.
The top three hitters from last year in seniors
Zoie Elrod
Zoie
Elrod
5'7" | OH/DS/L
South Warren | 2026
State
KY
and
Allie Chesnut
Allie
Chesnut
5'9" | OH/DS/L
South Warren | 2026
State
KY
on the outside along with junior
Hannah Lambert
Hannah
Lambert
5'10" | MB
South Warren | 2027
State
KY
in the middle give the Spartans sound offense. Sophomore
Olivia Wells
Olivia
Wells
5'8" | OH/RS
South Warren | 2028
State
KY
and freshman Jalyn Page add to that attack.
South Warren hosts Greenwood on Aug. 21 to start the season.
Greenwood (20-16)
The Gators have the most region crowns since 2003, but have to find a way out of a loaded district. They graduated just three seniors from last season.
Junior setter
Lila Whittinghill
Lila
Whittinghill
5'9" | S
Greenwood | 2027
State
KY
returns along with three sound hitters in senior outside hitter
Caroline Stinnett
Caroline
Stinnett
OH
Greenwood | 2026
State
KY
, junior Camera Harrison and sophomore
Farrah White
Farrah
White
5'8" | OH/S
Greenwood | 2028
State
KY
. Senior
Blair Alexander
Blair
Alexander
5'4" | DS/L
Greenwood | 2026
State
KY
gives the Gators a sound presence at libero with senior
Mia Aikins
Mia
Aikins
DS/L
Greenwood | 2026
KY
and junior
Lauren Smith
Lauren
Smith
DS/L
Greenwood | 2027
State
KY
helping to form a sound back row.
Head coach Nicole Whitson listed team chemistry as a key to success this season. She said it has been good so far.
The Gators open the season at home against White House (Tennessee) on Aug. 19.
Warren Central (9-16)
The Dragons find themselves in a tough situation in a tough district. Two key returning players are seniors Hau Hoih and Melina Hot.
Warren Central opens the season Aug. 19 at home against Warren East.

15th District
Warren East (21-11)
The Raiders moved over to the 15th District in 2022 and have won three straight district championships. They are favored for a fourth with the graduation of just two seniors. Head coach Shea Moore has a veteran team with six seniors and seven juniors.
Warren East returns junior libero
Mary Grace Jackson
Mary
Grace Jackson
5'1" | DS/L
Warren East | 2027
State
KY
(above) along with junior setter
Caylie Hoffman
Caylie
Hoffman
5'2" | S/DS/L
Warren East | 2027
State
KY
. Two sound hitters in senior outside hitter
Kaytlin Miller
Kaytlin
Miller
OH
Warren East | 2026
State
KY
and senior middle blocker
Catherine Montgomery
Catherine
Montgomery
5'8" | OH
Warren East | 2026
State
KY
also return. Junior
Mikaela Kaczynski
Mikaela
Kaczynski
5'4" | DS/L
Warren East | 2027
State
KY
returns on defense and sophomore middle
Maddie Hoffman
Maddie
Hoffman
5'7" | S
Warren East | 2028
State
KY
hopes to give the Raiders a presence at the net.
Moore listed leadership and defense as huge keys to success this year. Moore said she'd like to get over the hump in close games with the improved defense.
Warren East travels to Warren Central on Aug. 19.
Allen County-Scottsville (20-20)
The Patriots made the region tournament last year and returns a senior-laden team with nine total including setter Georgie Tabor Georgie Tabor S Allen County - Scottsville | 2026 State KY and outside hitter Kaitlyn Duncan. Another key returning player is junior middle blocker Lily Cook.
Allen County-Scottsville opens the season on Aug. 18 against Clinton County.
Barren County (15-17)
Robin McMurtrey likes the size she has coming in this year with three players listed at six-feet plus. Two are senior middle blockers
Ann Ashley Atkinson
Ann
Ashley Atkinson
5'11" | MB/OH
Barren County | 2026
State
KY
and Hannah Bragg along with junior Reagan Griffiths. Senior Riley Wilson gives Barren County a strong outside presence.
Senior setter Savanah Murrell is versatile. McMurtrey said Murrell could be the team's libero, but has great hands and court sense. Senior defensive specialist
Josey Moore
Josey
Moore
5'3" | DS/L/OH
Barren County | 2026
KY
hopes to make an impact on first touches.
Barren County travels to Caverna on Aug. 19 to start the season.
Glasgow (10-20)
Glasgow had just one senior last year. The Scotties welcome back junior outside hitter Jamesanna Soto along with sophomore setter
Aubree Norris
Aubree
Norris
5'3" | S
Glasgow | 2028
State
KY
.
Glasgow starts the season Aug. 18 at Hart County.
16th District
Russell County (25-10)
The Lakers have a new head coach, but it's a familiar name. Former basketball and volleyball standout Kailey Coffey, who played college basketball at Northern Kentucky University, takes over the program hoping to take them back to region tournament after missing out last year in a 3-2 district semifinal loss to Clinton County.
Russell County graduated eight seniors. However, the Lakers do return senior libero
Ella Pierce
Ella
Pierce
5'3" | DS/L
Russell County | 2026
State
KY
and junior setter/defensive specialist
Madelyn Roy
Madelyn
Roy
5'7" | S
Russell County | 2027
State
KY
.
Coffey said keys to success this season will be maintaining high energy, doing the fundamentals and working together this year. They showed good signs of that in the Bluegrass Games.
Russell County hosts Somerset on Aug. 19 to start the season.
Cumberland County (22-9)
The Panthers had a historic breakthrough season last year led by the dynamic Madilyn Hawley, who graduated and took her talents to nearby Campbellsville University.
Cumberland County won the first district championship in program history and won a region tournament game in the first-ever appearance in the region tournament before Bowling Green knocked them out in the semifinals. The Panthers welcome everyone else back starting with sophomore setter
Marleigh Mollo
Marleigh
Mollo
5'6" | S/RS
Cumberland County Hi | 2028
State
KY
.
On defense, juniors Lillian Shrock along with sophomores
Lily Pruitt
Lily
Pruitt
DS/L
Cumberland County Hi | 2028
State
KY
and Kaylee Vibbert come back. The leading returning hitters are seniors
Sadie Arterburn
Sadie
Arterburn
MB
Cumberland County Hi | 2026
KY
,
Erica Branham
Erica
Branham
MB
Cumberland County Hi | 2026
KY
along with sophomores
Kennedy England
Kennedy
England
5'9" | MB/OH
Cumberland County Hi | 2028
State
KY
and
Kynslee Perdue
Kynslee
Perdue
RS
Cumberland County Hi | 2028
State
KY
.
Cumberland County travels to Clay County (Tennesse) on Aug. 18 to start the season.
Monroe County (18-9)
The Falcons put together a nice season, but could not get past the Panthers in a tight 3-2 loss in the district semifinals. They graduated seven seniors off that team. Senior outside hitter Ainsley Turner and two setters in senior
Layni England
Layni
England
5'1" | DS/L
Monroe County | 2026
KY
and junior
Sarah Thompson
Sarah
Thompson
5'9" | S
Monroe County | 2027
KY
return.
Monroe County travels to Barren County on Aug. 19 to start the season.
Clinton County (14-19)
The Bulldogs upset top-seeded Russell County in the district semifinals to make it to the region tournament. Head coach Josh Moons saw three players graduate.
The leading returning hitter moved away, but the Bulldogs welcome back freshman Abby Davis and senior
Chloe Longwell
Chloe
Longwell
5'8" | RS
Clinton County | 2026
State
KY
. Sophomore setter
Adalyn Duvall
Adalyn
Duvall
MB
Clinton County | 2028
State
KY
returns along with junior
Lauren Winningham
Lauren
Winningham
RS
C | 2027
KY
on defense.
Clinton County travels to Allen County-Scottsville on Aug. 18 in the season-opener.
Metcalfe County (12-21)
The Hornets are ready to turn a new chapter with Ethan Bardwell taking over the program.
Junior libero
Amelia Slinker
Amelia
Slinker
5'2" | DS/L
Metcalfe County | 2027
State
KY
returns to anchor the defense with junior setters
Harper Hurt
Harper
Hurt
5'7" | S/RS
Metcalfe County | 2027
State
KY
and
Ellie Landrum
Ellie
Landrum
5'3" | S/RS
Metcalfe County | 2027
KY
also returning. The top three hitters also come back in juniors
Mollie Devore
Mollie
Devore
5'3" | OH/DS/L
Metcalfe County | 2027
State
KY
, Lily Horton and senior Addison Parrish.
Metcalfe County travels to Franklin-Simpson to start the season Aug. 18.
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Highlights
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Highlights
Kaczynski does a good job for the Raiders on first touches. She has good reflexes and squares up her body to balls to make those important passes. Her energy on the court is contagious.
Highlights
Hurt has been through her fair share of adversity, but it only makes her stronger. She lands a lot of aces with her strong serving. She uses her solid skills on first touches and strong swings. She is a sound communicator on the court.
Highlights
Region Fast Facts
Record in State Tournament Since 2003 when state tournament split from eight to 16 regions: 23-22
Most Region Crowns since 2003: Greenwood with 12.
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.
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