16th Region Season in Review: Ashland makes history in repeat

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Writer's Note: The Exposure Tour is coming to Kentucky on November 30th and some of the state's top talent will be there. Use code GrahamPD25 to register</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Ashland Kittens expected to repeat as region champions and did just that going a perfect 19-0 in region play on their way to 64th District and region crowns. Ashland then knocked off Whitley County, 3-0 (27-25, 25-21, 25-21) in the first round of the state tournament at home to earn the first state tournament win in program history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A balanced attack keyed the Ashland (37-5 overall) run. [player_tooltip player_id='782415' first='Miley' last='Murphy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='781585' first='Elise' last='Marcum'] gave opponents fits in the middle with their size with [player_tooltip player_id='741516' first='Mena' last='Pittman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='741511' first='Olivia' last='Wiley'] giving the Kittens outside options for setters [player_tooltip player_id='786656' first='Caroline' last='Lowman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='782955' first='Sydney' last='Mertz']. Karley Sperry and [player_tooltip player_id='782951' first='Anniston' last='Mertz'] led the Kittens defensively. Marcum and Lowman return next season. [player_tooltip player_id='794222' first='Greer' last='Layman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='893930' first='Melanie' last='Kelley'] also come back with significant varsity experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The one mark entering the season was who would challenge the Kittens in the championship game. That wound up being the 61st District champion Rowan County Valkyries (27-7), who beat Boyd County in the semifinals to make it back to the title game for the first time since 2020.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They finished 15-4 in region play with three losses coming to Ashland. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='253881' first='Mallory' last='Jones'] along with two powerful outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='535235' first='Belle' last='Mains'] and [player_tooltip player_id='697081' first='Ella' last='Breeze'] led the way there. [player_tooltip player_id='781412' first='Eliza' last='McGillicuddy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='611809' first='Kelsey' last='May'] led the Valkyries on defense. All five will be back along with promising freshman [player_tooltip player_id='874785' first='Eva' last='Brinker']. Key graduation losses will be Ella Brinker, Dakota Ginter and Brooklyn Tenyer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Greenup County drives back to region tournament</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite having size and athleticism, the Musketeers could not get out of the rugged 63rd District, but that changed this year when Greenup County (24-8) bested Raceland, 3-0 (25-21, 25-11, 25-16) to make it back to the region tournament for the first time since 2020, But the Musketeers did not stop there. They beat Russell, 3-0 (27-25, 25-23, 25-17) in the championship game to claim the first district title since 2012 before losing to Boyd County in the region quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Russell makes semifinals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Red Devils (27-11) made it back to the region semifinals behind a solid season from 6-0 phenom [player_tooltip player_id='535185' first='Jaycee' last='Hall']. [player_tooltip player_id='761943' first='Sydney' last='Sizemore'], [player_tooltip player_id='815257' first='Kennedy' last='Darnell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='877673' first='Brooklyn' last='Sizemore'] gave Russell versatility. Brooklyn Holley and Abigail Artis led the Red Devils on defense. Hall, [player_tooltip player_id='877673' first='Brooklyn' last='Sizemore'] and Artis return for Russell next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Carter earns district crown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Comets (15-11) won their first district championship since 2019 winning all three games against county rival East Carter. Three seniors in Libero [player_tooltip player_id='212353' first='Aalyah' last='Patton'], setter Reanna Brown and middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='533382' first='Mallory' last='Hicks'] led the team. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='611683' first='Camryn' last='Hall'] and freshman defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='797667' first='Payton' last='Layne'] lead the returning players for next season.</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":["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-6923d8677c75f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kelley (pictured) made her way onto the floor for the varsity this season with her athleticism. Kelley mixes in hard and soft shots to keep defenses guessing. She makes things happen out of system for Ashland. Kelley makes sound passes and forms good double blocks. Kelley had 87 kills, 19 blocks and 83 digs to help Ashland make the state quarterfinals for the first time in school history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["781412"],"_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-6923dd32927ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McGillicuddy improved each time she took the court for the Valkyries. She sets her feet well then uses a good platform to deliver two to three-point passes to setter [player_tooltip player_id='253881' first='Mallory' last='Jones'] so Jones can set up the powerful Rowan County hitters. Her deep line drive serves give opponents fits and she makes good out of system sets. She'll only get better during club season. McGillicuddy had 371 digs and 65 aces for Rowan County this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["909947"],"_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-6923e1a49a83c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hammond gave the Musketeers sound play on defense. She moves her feel well then positions herself to make crisp first touches. She does a good job communicating with teammates on the court. Hammond has proven she can handle both hard hit and softly touched balls. Hammond dug up 228 balls this past season, helping the Musketeers win their first district championship since 2012.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["817467"],"_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-6923e1a49a89c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Vorndran is a promising young hitter for the Devils. Vorndran showed some versatility for Russell this season. Vorndran takes sound swings from the outside and can angle balls off blockers for big points. Vorndran also makes good first passes, forms good double blocks and makes sound serves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["611683"],"_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-6923e49fdbd87"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hall is a nice six-rotation player for the Comets. She did a good job setting up her hitters for success this season. She also set things up well serving the ball and with first contacts. Hall had 157 assists and 70 digs to help West Carter to the first district championship since 2019 this past fall.</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. For a 30% discount, enter code graham30 at checkout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->