Talent shines in Nicholas County's first 38th District crown

This instant classic was about the historically queens of the hill wanting the throne back against an upstart trying to use the home court to win the first district championship in program history in Wednesday's 38th District championship.   The visiting Harrison County Fillies (18-13 overall) had won the district championship 12 years in a row before Pendleton County halted that streak. They took care of Robertson County in three games in the district semifinals Tuesday.   On the other side, the Nicholas County Jackets (18-5) found themselves in the district championship for the first time since 2018 with a sound 3-0 win over Pendleton County on Tuesday and just the fourth time in program history. Harrison County had beaten Nicholas County by 3-0 scores for district titles in 2013, 2017 and 2018.   Just 16 days after beating Harrison County, 3-2 for the first time in program history in Carlisle, the Jackets won another 3-2 (25-27, 25-12, 25-15, 17-25, 15-12) victory to earn that first district championship in program history. Nicholas County has won 10 in a row and has tied the school record for most wins in a season.   "Like I told the girls all year long and even at the beginning of the day, I wanted us to try to win the first three sets," Nicholas County head coach Kim Denkins said. "But if we didn't, it would probably go down to the fifth set. Whoever wanted it the most was going to have to go and dig deep, and I think our girls did that."   Both teams had their moments of sending free balls back and forth with some mistakes made in the process. However, the team that took the most hard swings wound up winning. Nicholas County took more of them led by senior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='765664' first='Morgan' last='Broderick']. Kylie Earlywine, Danica Amburgey and Loralee Orazan also had some big swings. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='895514' first='Sadie' last='Vice'] led the way with sound first touches with setters Mackenzie Davenport and [player_tooltip player_id='757958' first='Alison' last='Reid'] setting up the hitters for success.   On the other side, twin sisters Lauren Highlander and Lexie Highlander had good games to lead the Fillies. Karsyn Bennett also made some plays defensively with [player_tooltip player_id='532789' first='Audree' last='Whitaker'], Shyanne Ross and Mae Heimlich taking big swings.   In the decisive fifth set, Harrison County jumped out to a 4-0 lead on a Whitaker tip kill and a Lexie Highlander ace. Broderick landed a kill to get Nicholas County on the board before Resa Heimlich landed a kill to give the Fillies a 5-1 advantage. Orazan then landed a kill to trim the margin to 5-3.   Down 9-6, Nicholas County scored three in a row to tie the set at 9-9 on two Earlywine kills and a Broderick block. The Fillies responded with three straight to go up 12-9 on a Whitaker kill, a Lexie Highlander shove and a Ross tip kill.   However, the Jackets scored six in a row to end the game. Broderick started the run with a kill and two Harrison County errors tied the game at 12 before a long hit gave Nicholas County a 13-12 lead. After another Broderick kill made it 14-12 Jackets, Orazan finished the game hitting one off a Harrison County block.   Nicholas County actually led 18-13 in the first set, but Harrison County came back to tie it at 24. Up 24-23, Broderick took a hard swing, but Lexie Highlander timed the dive perfectly and kept the play alive tying the game on a Nicholas County hitting error. Whitaker tied the game at 25 before winning on two Nicholas County hitting errors.   Nicholas County dominated the second set scoring seven in a row to go up 10-3. Reid ended it with an ace.   The Jackets also handled business in the third set scoring the first two points and not looking back. They increased the lead to 10 ending it on an Earlywine tip kill.   Needing to win the set to extend the game, Harrison County built a 9-3 lead. Nicholas County cut the margin to 18-15 before the Fillies scored five in a row to go up 23-15. Ross finished that set with a kill.   Both teams advance to the 10th Region Tournament at George Rogers Clark next week. Nicholas County faces either Montgomery County or the loser of Scott-Calvary Christian or Mason County-Bracken County. Harrison County will take on host George Rogers Clark or the winner from one of the other two district championships Thursday.   Notable Performers    Broderick had a game for the ages for the Jackets. Described as helpful, kind and positive by teammates and close ones, Broderick is not only a sound, consistent player, but is a true coach on the floor, constantly making sure teammates are in the right position on the floor. Broderick again produced from all six spots on the floor. She made the most of every ball that came to her finding different ways to put balls down. Broderick saw a number of solo and double blocks, but constantly put balls off them, over and around them for big points. Broderick had a big block in that final game and kept Harrison County out of rhythm with sound serves. Broderick said the team came into the game confident and working together, but did not come out strong enough in that first set, so they used it to win the second and third sets. She noted the Jackets had issues in the fourth set, but came together to pull it out in the fifth set. Broderick had 29 kills in the historic Nicholas County win.     Reid hustled all over the court making play after play to lift the Jackets to that elusive first district championship. Reid stayed calm under duress staying within herself. Reid consistently made sound sets even if outside the preferred setting zone, mixing things up. Reid put herself in great position to make sound touches in the 6-2 Nicholas County formation. Reid is also a sound server. Reid said things work well with the other setter in Mackenzie Davenport because they both get opportunities on defense and one is always on the court to set things up.     Vice (pictured) does what she can to control the back row with a nice platform. Vice only dives when necessary, keeping her first touches under control to set up the Nicholas County offense. Vice trusts her teammates in the back row backing up quickly if they call for balls. Vice said watching where hitters' hands are going and going for everything even if one doesn't believe they'll reach balls because they might and that could turn into a difference in the game.     Davenport also made some nice passes and put her teammates in good position to put balls down. Davenport provided good net coverage making key digs on blocked balls to keep plays alive. Davenport said she and her teammates have worked together all those years and she knows where the hitters want balls set for effective swings.     Highlander's athleticism generally shines bright on both the volleyball court and softball field. She gives everything she has on every play. Highlander made a number of sound passes and sets in the district championship game. Highlander even made a key save on Broderick in the first set that allowed the Fillies to come back and win.     Whitaker makes plays from the middle and the outside using her size for the Fillies. Whitaker makes nice blocks on balls near her. She took some hard swings and pushed balls to the shallow ones for big points throughout the game for Harrison County.    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.

This instant classic was about the historically queens of the hill wanting the throne back against an upstart trying to use the home court to win the first district championship in program history in Wednesday's 38th District championship.