State's kills leaders battle for 15th Region crown

With the state's two kills leaders on opposite sides of the court, everyone in attendance knew there'd be plenty of fireworks in the 15th Region championship game.   Paintsville junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='253875' first='Kylie' last='Kinner'] entered the day leading the state with 802 kills on the season averaging 6.8 per set while Shelby Valley junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='535230' first='Miley' last='Riddle'] came into the day with 753 kills, averaging a state-high 7.38 kills per set. The two played together for the Eastern Kentucky Junior Volleyball Club's 17-1 team in the spring.   It came down to which team executed serve reception and first touches better. The Shelby Valley Kats (33-5 overall) did that winning the game, 3-1 (25-23, 16-25, 25-17, 26-24) to capture the first region championship in program history to add to the historic season that includes the most wins in program history, a second straight 59th District championship, a second straight All "A" 15th Region crown and a runner-up finish in the All "A" Bronze Division bracket.   "It is a huge team sport and this team pulled together for the win," Shelby Valley head coach Misty Riddle said. "(Touches on tough hitters) is huge because you have to slow the ball down. This latter part of the season, (the Tigers) have been lighting it up, honestly. Give it to the hitters on Paintsville's side. They're great so our big key was get in front of them, slow it down. Then the defense picks it up. Know where you're standing at. Don't give up. Hit the ground if the ball is there. Then everyone else picks up the slack. All we need is it off the ground. That's what we stressed and that's what we did."   Paintsville (28-11) came into the game peeking at the right time having won 14 in a row, including a 13th district championship in 14 years. The Tigers drove to the state quarterfinals last year. However, Shelby Valley won three of the four games this year including the region championship after losing to Paintsville in the region semifinals last year.   Riddle had great help up front from [player_tooltip player_id='741700' first='Sahnia' last='Linton'], [player_tooltip player_id='899540' first='Lindsay' last='Baldwin'] and setter [player_tooltip player_id='612248' first='Talynn' last='Johnson']. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='740604' first='Makaya' last='Price'], [player_tooltip player_id='535231' first='Ryleigh' last='Perry'] and [player_tooltip player_id='800657' first='Aaron' last='Elkins'] had a number of nice first touches for the the Kats.   [player_tooltip player_id='816699' first='Mallory' last='May'], [player_tooltip player_id='785507' first='Kate' last='Lauffer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='742476' first='Annabelle' last='Blankenship'] also had some nice swings off good sets from [player_tooltip player_id='882232' first='Ella' last='Wells'] and [player_tooltip player_id='890171' first='Addison' last='Helton']. Kendall Short, McKinley Ramey and Bentley Smith had some nice digs for the Tigers.   The first set saw Shelby Valley go on a 6-0 run when Linton landed five kills to give the Kats a 10-4 lead. However, Paintsville battled back and tied the game at 17. Baldwin landed a block to put Shelby Valley up 21-18. The Kats led 24-21 before the Tigers scored twice to trim it to 24-23 after a Kinner block. However, [player_tooltip player_id='535230' first='Miley' last='Riddle'] landed one from the back row to the back line to end that set.   Shelby Valley scored the first four points of the second set before Paintsville responded with seven in a row. The Tigers slowly pulled away finishing the set when Blankenship landed a tip kill.   The Kats scored the first three points of the third set but did not let the lead slip away in this one. That set ended on a Paintsville wide hit.   Shelby Valley also scored the first two points of the fourth set. The Kats built a 10-4 lead before the Tigers battled back to tie it with the season on the line. Tied at 24, Riddle landed a kill on the go route to the four zone then landed a soft kill in the front row to finish the game.   Notable Players    Riddle is a dynamic hitter at all six spots on the court, using a great wrist snap. She makes good in-air adjustments and is lethal on the go routes. Riddle hits balls to the two and four zones well on pipe plays. Riddle runs tandems well with teammates. Riddle is sound at first touches and has tough jump serves. Described as connected, positive and supportive by teammates and classmates, Riddle holds herself and her teammates to high standards on and off the court and takes coaching well. Riddle said the team works consistently on executing the pipe plays to the back right and left zones trying not to hit to the same places. Riddle added players become readable if they continue to hit to the same places. Riddle also said it was about placement and being smart with the ball for her in this game.     Linton (pictured) uses her size well to help the Kats control the net in different ways. Linton has a good approach and follow-through at the net. Linton uses a strong vertical to execute ones well. Linton had a number of key solo and double blocks in the victory. Linton added in some tips to shallow part of the court to keep Paintsville guessing. Linton said she does whatever she can to help out the Kats.     Johnson once again ran the offense well for the Kats putting the hitters, especially Linton and Riddle, in great position to succeed. Johnson stays composed on the court taking things play by play. Described as encouraging, funny and supportive by teammates and close ones, Johnson does a variety of sets hence the reason for recording exactly 1000 assists on the season entering the day, and is a reliable passer and server. Johnson said it's important to keep a positive attitude even when down five or six points because teams can always come back.     Elkins flys under the radar a bit, but makes a number of valuable plays for the Kats. She provides good net defense and makes crisp passes consistently. Elkins is not afraid to call for balls and teammates can trust her to jumpstart the offensive rhythm. Elkins can keep opponents out of rhythm with her serving.     Price does a great job hustling after balls. She reads hitters well and puts herself in position to make simple and hard passes. Some hard hit balls came caromed off her arms line ping pong balls under control. Price also delivers serving the ball for Shelby Valley.     Perry helps the Kats form a great defense. She communicates well with other hitters and her teammates trust her to make good passes. Perry also had a number of key digs throughout the game. Perry said the players have a lot of trust in each other and they know where they're supposed to go. Perry added they communicate well and keep balls up.     Baldwin helped give the Kats sound net defense. Baldwin had crucial blocks and kills at different times in the game. With some more confidence, Baldwin could turn into a strong front row player for the Kats these next two seasons.     Kinner has added on to her solid, versatile play this year with powerful hits from the back row. Kinner executes pipe plays well. Her mom and Paintsville head coach Dawn Kinner said they're working on her to be effective with roll shots out of the back row. Kinner continues to smack balls hard on go routes and make mid-air adjustments to mix in soft touches. Kinner also patrols the back row with authority and makes things happen with her tough jump serve.     Wells consistently sets things up well in the 6-2 Paintsville offense. Wells does a variety of sets trying to involve a number of hitters and makes crisp two to three-point passes. Wells added in tough serves to keep opponents out of system.    Note from the Writer   Mike Graham has been writing for Prep Dig for nearly two years 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. 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With the state's two kills leaders on opposite sides of the court, everyone in attendance knew there'd be plenty of fireworks in the 15th Region championship game.