14th Region Season in Review: Knott County Central repeats

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knott County Central Patriots came into the season eyeing a potential rebuild after driving to the state quarterfinals in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Instead, Knott County Central improved last year's win total by five wins and repeated 14th Region champions and lost at Shelby Valley in the first round of the state tournament. The Patriots finished 36-3 going 24-1 against region opponents after opening the season with a road loss at Leslie County. They also made it back to the All "A" State Tournament, winning all three pool play games before losing to Holy Cross (Louisville) in the championship flight quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Knott County Central graduates four player in the spring in setter [player_tooltip player_id='792174' first='Avery' last='Conley'] along with the top three hitters in [player_tooltip player_id='276172' first='Taylor' last='Baker'], [player_tooltip player_id='533386' first='Samara' last='Bailey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='900707' first='Ava' last='Waddell']. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='484291' first='Zoe' last='Miller'], freshman [player_tooltip player_id='896832' first='Kynley' last='Baker'] and eighth grader [player_tooltip player_id='912613' first='Rylee' last='Craft'] are the leading returning hitters. [player_tooltip player_id='714563' first='Lily' last='Blair'] and Aidyn Conley could step in at the other setter role. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='783771' first='Avery' last='Sluss'] and Kaylee King return on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leslie County (26-9) drove to the region championship for the first time since 2015. The Eagles also won a second straight 54th District championship. They graduate top hitter [player_tooltip player_id='771728' first='Royce' last='Osborne'] and setter [player_tooltip player_id='837880' first='Sarah' last='Osborne']. However, junior [player_tooltip player_id='603770' first='Jaelyn' last='Johnson'] along with freshman hitter Peyton Hochstetler return along with junior setter Hailey Napier. [player_tooltip player_id='912581' first='Tatum' last='Begley'] is also a key returning player on defense. Sam Gay and [player_tooltip player_id='815663' first='Lauren' last='Osborne'] could step forward offensively for Leslie County in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Letcher County Central drove to the 2A State championship and lost to Leslie County in the region semifinals. That marked the third straight year the Cougars (20-15) have lost in the region semifinals. The good news is the Cougars have just one senior in defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='795371' first='Katie' last='Combs'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eighth grader [player_tooltip player_id='762378' first='Piper' last='Adams'] excelled at the libero spot and junior Kelsi Holbrook took control of the setter spot. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='771734' first='Calissa' last='Lowe'], [player_tooltip player_id='603819' first='Hanna' last='Eldridge'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='612103' first='Evany' last='Pack'] had great seasons leading the offense. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='819895' first='Tiara' last='Bailey'] and Zoey McCullum also great things throughout the season. Sophomore Addy Blevins gave the Cougars sound defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Breathitt County (21-10) won the 55th District for the first time since 2021. Hitter [player_tooltip player_id='781713' first='Brielle' last='Halsey'] had an oustanding season as did setter [player_tooltip player_id='212196' first='Audrynn' last='Hamilton']. Talented freshman [player_tooltip player_id='764294' first='Emily' last='Bird'] also had a great season. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='535225' first='Alexis' last='Pelfrey'] and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='577792' first='Raelan' last='Back'] led the defense. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='755734' first='Charlie' last='Stacy'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='846962' first='Destiny' last='Hensley'] hope for bigger things next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wolfe County (19-15) made it back to the region semifinals improving last year's win total by eight. Twins sisters [player_tooltip player_id='212195' first='Naoma' last='Noble'] at outside hitter and [player_tooltip player_id='828664' first='Abby' last='Noble'] at setter led the team. They graduate in the spring. However, junior hitters [player_tooltip player_id='781599' first='Emily' last='Stephens'] and [player_tooltip player_id='603771' first='Madison' last='Deshon'] return along with libero [player_tooltip player_id='603773' first='Grace' last='Ponce']. Some younger talent could step forward for the Wolves next fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["783771"],"_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-692bcfdfcea98"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sluss anchored the defense for the Patriots setting her feet well and making the simple passes. She has good range and throws defenders off with a solid jump serve. Sluss is solid communicator on the court. Sluss had 342 digs, 93 assists and 49 aces for Knott County Central this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["612103"],"_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-692bcfdfceb1f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pack (pictured) does a good job mixing up her hits to keep defenders guessing. She smacks hard crosses on go routes and takes things off on role shots to the middle of the floor. Pack takes sound swings when the Cougars are out of system.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["912581"],"_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-692bcfdfceb80"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Begley has a great rhythm on her first touches. She puts walls around balls and consistently sends them to the setter zone in the front row. Begley reacts quickly on hard hit balls and moves forward fast on tips. Begley can handle crosses and guard lines. Begley had 280 digs and 48 aces for Leslie County this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["535225"],"_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-692bd36b3be47"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pelfrey put together a solid season defensively for the Cats this past season. She makes sound first touches so Breathitt County can run a smooth offense. Pelfrey is also an aggressive server mixing up locations. Pelfrey had 323 digs and 103 aces for Breathitt County this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["781599"],"_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-692bd36b3beee"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stephens gives the Wolves balance in the middle and at the pins. Stephens has a nice approach to the net and sound follow-through putting balls away from defenders. Stephens puts down overpassed balls with authority. Stephens had 144 kills for the Wolves this past 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 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. 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. Prep Dig is running a&nbsp;<strong>50% off subscription sale</strong>&nbsp;starting Monday, Nov. 23 and running through&nbsp;<strong>Cyber Monday</strong>. It is a great time to get in on the action as the initial Class of 2028 rankings will be released on Cyber Monday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->