Around Kentucky: Assumption wins tournament in Knoxville

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four of the state's Dominant Five ventured south to Knoxville to play in the Showdown at the Sunsphere on Friday and Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption (7-0 overall) stayed undefeated with a 6-0 run through the tournament. The Rockets did not lose any sets, knocking off St. Henry, 2-0 (25-15, 25-17) in the championship game after beating Lovett (Georgia) in the semifinals. St. Henry (7-1) bested Mercy (7-1) in the semifinals, 2-1 (25-14, 14-25, 15-12) after surviving a battle against Beechwood, 2-1 (25-14, 21-25, 15-12). Sacred Heart (4-3) finished 1-3 in the tournament to tie for fifth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overall, 11 Kentucky teams played in the tournament. Beechwood (5-1) finished 3-1 to take 12th out of 78 teams and North Oldham (3-3) finished 3-2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Assumption junior varsity also won the junior varsity tournament. The Rockets knocked off North Oldham and Mercy in the semifinals and title game, respectively to win the crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Henry and Assumption meet again in Erlanger on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Louisville Central starts 6-0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Yellowjackets won all six games in the "1st Spike" Jefferson County Public Schools Volleyball Tournament. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='751391' first='Sydney' last='Makle-Bradley'] has led the way unsurprisingly. The Yellowjackets have also seen big offensive production from freshman Sydney Ruccio, senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='841684' first='Amahia' last='Moore'] and junior Shree Martin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Leslie County, Knott County Central win tournaments</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles (7-0) opened the season with a 3-1 (23-25, 27-25, 25-23, 25-23) win at home against the Patriots. They went on to go 5-0 and win the All A Invitational at Williamsburg. [player_tooltip player_id='771728' first='Royce' last='Osborne'] and [player_tooltip player_id='603770' first='Jaelyn' last='Johnson'] had big offensive games against Knott County Central. They also received boosts from junior setter Hailey Napier and junior Tatum Bailey on defense. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='837880' first='Sarah' last='Osborne'] also contributed at setter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Knott County Central (6-1) won the McCreary Central Invitational on Saturday. [player_tooltip player_id='276172' first='Taylor' last='Baker'] has led the way in kills with [player_tooltip player_id='533386' first='Samara' last='Bailey'] in blocks. The Patriots are displaying the balance they had last year including 11 kills from eighth grader Rylee Craft. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='783771' first='Avery' last='Sluss'] has stepped into the libero role nicely with [player_tooltip player_id='792174' first='Avery' last='Conley'] doing a nice job setting up the hitters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Names to know for Paintsville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Paintsville won both games to start the season with [player_tooltip player_id='253875' first='Kylie' last='Kinner'] unsurprisingly leading the way with 34 kills. Her mom and head coach Dawn Kinner did not need to be told getting help around her would be vital.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A number of names have emerged. Junior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='816699' first='Mallory' last='May'] is one name. She is second on the team in kills and junior [player_tooltip player_id='742476' first='Annabelle' last='Blankenship'] is third. Senior Ella Wells and freshman Addison Helton have split the setting duties. The digs leader is another freshman in Kendall Short.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Paintsville travels to Magoffin County on Tuesday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Performers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["544366"],"_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-68ad3c28b6cf2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Randol (pictured) has done a good job splitting the setting duties for the Jaguars in their 7-1 start. She does a good job taking advantage of the number of sound hitters on the team. Randol sets short and long, consistently making the right reads against opposing defenses. Randol's first touches have improved early in the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["805561"],"_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-68ad3c28b6d5d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Butler gives the Crusaders a big option on the outside. She is in sync with the St. Henry setters and delivers in a number of ways. Butler has a nice curving swing when the team needs a big out of system hit and has shown she can land aces on sound liberos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484327"],"_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-68ad3c28b6da7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Poteraj took solid swings throughout club season and has carried it over into the fall. Poteraj has a tough cross, slide move and can hit balls off blockers when needed. Poteraj has more than benefitted from playing in the fast-paced KIVA club. She will earn a number of one-on-one opportunities with the loaded Rockets squad this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["816699"],"_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-68ad3c28b6deb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">May gives the Tigers another great option in the balanced attack they're building around [player_tooltip player_id='253875' first='Kylie' last='Kinner']. May takes sound swings from the outside to the lines and crosses. May takes great approaches to the net and lets up when needed to place soft ones in the middle near the 10-foot line. May has 27 kills in two games for the Tigers, good for second on the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["792174"],"_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-68ad42c77e4b9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Conley has stepped into a setting role nicely for the Patriots. She plants her feet well and delivers to the power zones for the hitters. Conley can do a variety of sets including the back set. Conley has a powerful line drive serve.</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 -->