Week in Review: Washington County wins Bullitt Central Challenge

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Darren Morris took over the 19th District program aiming to turn around the fortunes of a program that won just four games a year ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Commanderettes have turned some corners this season with an 11-14 record for a seven-win improvement. They went 3-1 on Saturday to win the Bullitt Central Cougar Challenge, defeating Bracken County, host Bullitt Central and Presentation and losing to Bracken County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bracken County (24-6) also went 3-1 in the tournament. The Bears also notched wins over Wolfe County and Presentation. Bracken County is one victory of matching last year's school record for wins in a season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Greenup County wins tri-match at West Carter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Musketeers (21-7) knocked off host West Carter and Menifee County in the Breast Cancer Awareness "Pink Out" Tri-Match. Greenup County has won seven in a row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things start on defense with senior Amanda Hatfield, juniors Kami Hammond, Baylee Willis and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='612180' first='Emma' last='Sargent']. Senior Addyson Gordon then sets up a balanced attack with senior [player_tooltip player_id='479278' first='Peyton' last='Powell'] along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='484428' first='Lucy' last='Roy'], [player_tooltip player_id='484432' first='Hailey' last='Dillow'] and [player_tooltip player_id='484287' first='Kaylee' last='Braden'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Carter (14-7) defeated Menifee County in the other game. The Comets are still putting together another nice season including two wins over county rival West Carter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ashland wins tri-match at Corbin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kittens (28-4) concluded the week with two wins on Saturday over Corbin and Adair County. Ashland finished the week 4-1 only losing at Sacred Heart on Monday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kittens continue to receive balance from their two middles in [player_tooltip player_id='781585' first='Elise' last='Marcum'] and [player_tooltip player_id='782415' first='Miley' last='Murphy'] along with two senior outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='741516' first='Mena' last='Pittman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='741511' first='Olivia' last='Wiley']. Setters [player_tooltip player_id='782955' first='Sydney' last='Mertz'] and [player_tooltip player_id='786656' first='Caroline' last='Lowman'] receive good passes from the likes of Karley Sperry, [player_tooltip player_id='782951' first='Anniston' last='Mertz'] and [player_tooltip player_id='794222' first='Greer' last='Layman']. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='893930' first='Melanie' last='Kelley'] has worked her way into the rotation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adair County bested Corbin in the other game. Corbin and Ashland could mee</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":["612253"],"_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-68ec5a6cb36ce"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Smith (pictured) won the Bullitt Central Cougar Challenge Tournament Most Valuable Player honors with a nice performance Saturday. Smith has hit targets with her setting better this fall and it has shown as three Commanderettes have triple-digit kills. Smith can do a variety of sets including back sets and has a deceptive setover. Smith sends good serves to different parts of the court. Smith shoves balls hard to corners on second hits. Smith has more than 500 assists on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["805758"],"_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-68ec5a6cb3727"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Godman has turned into a nice weapon on the outside for the Bears. Godman curls balls away from defenders and can rise up then put small touches on balls to land them in the middle of the court. Godman pounds crosses to the back row and can tip them to shallow corners.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["612180"],"_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-68ec66dd282ad"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sargent positions herself well behind blockers, anticipates balls then goes hard after them making the simple overhand and bump passes. Sargent can handle hard crosses and pushes to the corners. Sargent only dives for balls when necessary. Her play in the back row has been a big key to help the Musketeers win 21 games on the season thus far.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["533382"],"_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-68ec66dd28354"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hicks just reached 1000 career kills for a reason. Teams have to defend her one-on-one because she uses her size so well to find openings on the court in different ways. Hicks goes up and pounds balls from the middle and the pins. She is especially tough on crosses and mixes in soft hits to shallow parts of the court. Hicks pounds down overpassed balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["893930"],"_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-68ec6cd9f063b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kelley has recently worked herself into the rotation. She has given the Kittens quality swings on the outsides. Kelley can pound crosses to the opposite corners on one play then tap balls to the shallow left on the next one. Kelley takes crisp out of system swings for Ashland. Kelley has also made nice passes and put up some sound blocks on the season.</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. 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