Week in Review: Bryan Station wins Woodford Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bryan Station Defenders won all seven games last week to move to 11-9 on the season to move above .500 following a 4-9 start. They won all five games in the Woodford County Tournament after finishing runner-up in it last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='212249' first='Cameron' last='Owens'] is putting together the blistering season expected with 284 kills, 104 digs and 25 aces entering the Woodford County Tournament. [player_tooltip player_id='768308' first='Nyalie' last='Locke'] is doing a good job setting Owens and eighth grade phenom [player_tooltip player_id='882181' first='Tylah' last='Walker']. Defensively, sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='888196' first='Lily' last='Howard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='794979' first='Jojo' last='Covington'] have emerged to help that cause. Howard had 16 digs and Covington 12 to help the Defenders beat Paul Laurence Dunbar on Thursday for a monumental win against a team they had not beaten in a while. Owens had 22 kills and 12 digs with Locke recording 22 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Walker is not the only eighth grader that has seen action in every game prior to the Woodford County Tournament. Defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='889777' first='Sophia' last='Newman'] has also made contributions this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bryan Station hosts Henry Clay on Tuesday in 42nd District action then goes to Lafayette on Wednesday. The Defenders also play in the Kentucky Challenge this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lexington Catholic still undefeated</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 2A state champion Knights moved to 14-0 with a 43rd District win at Lexington Christian on Tuesday then a 3-2 (20-25, 25-14, 25-19, 20-25, 15-9) win at Great Crossing on Thursday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three players had double-doubles at Great Crossing. Junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='603863' first='Charlotte' last='Hall'] had 48 assists and 10 digs. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='212388' first='Payton' last='Avilez'] led the Knights with 25 kills to go with 21 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='212387' first='Ella' last='Blackburn'] recording 21 kills and 11 digs. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='741875' first='Maddy' last='Warner'] added 20 digs with freshman [player_tooltip player_id='851603' first='Anna' last='Wethington'] tallying four aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LexCath goes to Madison Central on Tuesday then hosts George Rogers Clark on Wednesday before going to Scott County on Thursday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bowling Green follows up Capital City title with rivalry win</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bowing Green follows up Capital City Championship with a 3-0 win over Greenwood on Tuesday. [player_tooltip player_id='212192' first='Amirra' last='Bailey'] once again led the Purples with 12 kills, five assisted blocks and two solo blocks. [player_tooltip player_id='276175' first='Morgan' last='Rockrohr'] and [player_tooltip player_id='577773' first='Chayse' last='Gilliland'] had seven kills each. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='741315' first='JoEllen' last='Marshall'] had 26 assists with senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='796321' first='Liv' last='Arauz'] tallying 13 digs. Freshman Kathlyn Yarbrough has also emerged on defense this year and had 11 digs in the win. [player_tooltip player_id='850607' first='Reese' last='Romine'] has also done some setting for the Purples.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bowling Green (18-2) travels to Warren Central on Tuesday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ashland rolling along</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kittens (22-3) won both 16th Region games at Russell on Tuesday then at home against Greenup County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ashland saw [player_tooltip player_id='741511' first='Olivia' last='Wiley'] lead the way with 12 kills in the win over Greenup County with [player_tooltip player_id='741516' first='Mena' last='Pittman'] tallying eight to go with 13 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='766336' first='Karley' last='Jade Sperry'] also had 13 digs. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='782955' first='Sydney' last='Mertz'] had 20 assists and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='786656' first='Caroline' last='Lowman'] had 17 with both digging up seven balls and recording three aces each.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ashland's net defense rose up big in that win. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='781585' first='Elise' last='Marcum'] had five kills and three solo blocks with senior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='782415' first='Miley' last='Murphy'] tallying seven kills and two solo blocks. Mertz added two solo blocks and three aces.. Sophomore Melanie Kelley also chipped in five kills, two solo blocks and six digs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ashland faces Boyd County on Monday before going to Raceland on Tuesday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assumption holds off Sacred Heart in tight battle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two-time defending state champion Rockets have won all three meetings against the Valkyries. However, the battle Monday at Sacred Heart turned out to be the tightest one so far with a 3-2 (24-26, 23-25, 25-22, 25-20, 15-7) win that the Rockets had to rally to win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Performances</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["794979"],"_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-68d0a6beb83ac"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Covington gives the Defenders sound defensive play in the back court. Covington consistently makes the simple passes to set up the offensive attack for one of the state's most dynamic hitters. Covington adds in a sound jump serve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["768422"],"_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-68d0ab9b1304a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Millard (pictured) has done her part to give the Knights a sound defense. The defensive specialists set up well behind the size on the front row. Millard makes sound passes and brings great energy to the court. Millard hits good out of system passes to make sure the hitters can put good power out of them. Millard also had sound serves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["796321"],"_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-68d0ab9b130ef"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Arauz has done a great job stepping into the libero spot for the Purples this fall. Arauz knew she'd see a lot of tips this year with Bowling Green's size on the front row. Arauz positions herself well behind that front line and consistently makes two to three-point passes, even if she has to lunge one-handed for balls. Arauz is also a strong server. Arauz leads the Purples with 189 digs and is second with 32 aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Mel Kelley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Ashland","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68d0b30d701c4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kelley's play has improved throughout the season. Her versatility gives the Kittens an added dimension. Kelley hits balls over and around double blocks down lines and to the middle. She can also make good in-air adjustments to tap balls near the opposite shallow lines to surprise defenders. Kelley has 57 kills and 59 digs on the season for the Kittens.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["603778"],"_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-68d0b30d7022d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hurley turned a lot of corners in the spring and continues that sound play in the fall. Her mental toughness has especially come a long way. She's found different ways to make things happen such as setovers and setting different hitters at different angles.</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 -->