Region Championship Reviews: Region 1-8

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were no surprises on the western side of the state and on into the Louisville area as the eight projected winners emerged to win region crowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1st Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>McCracken County 3, Graves County 0 (25-18, 25-11, 25-19)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mustangs (31-7) won their 13th straight region championship. They travel to Bowling Green on Monday for the first round of state at 6 p.m. CST.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2nd Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Henderson County 3, Heritage (Hopkinsville) 0</strong> <strong>(25-17, 26-24, 25-12)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Colonels (28-9) pounded their way back to the top of the region sweeping Heritage after winning a tight 3-2 (24-26, 25-18, 19-25, 25-13, 15-13) battle against Christian County in the semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Against Heritage, senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='770772' first='Ella' last='Whitledge'] recorded 29 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='888158' first='Emmy' last='Sword'] tallying 15 digs, eight kills and four aces. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='806012' first='Kamryn' last='Raley'] had 16 assists and [player_tooltip player_id='776415' first='Addison' last='Kirtley'] had 15 assists and 11 digs. Senior Kylee Lyons had a team-high 12 kills and Evangline Loffland recorded 10 kills to go with 16 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Henderson County travels to Apollo on Monday for a 6 p.m. CST game in the first round of the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3rd Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Apollo 3, Meade County 0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-17)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The E-gals (30-10) took care of the Wave behind a balanced attack. [player_tooltip player_id='484301' first='Avery' last='Gray'] led Apollo with 14 kills and 12 digs and [player_tooltip player_id='612255' first='Jessie' last='Pate'] had 12 digs. Junior setter Madalyn Roberts had 15 assists and [player_tooltip player_id='845619' first='Jessica' last='Lee'] recorded 12. Freshman phenom [player_tooltip player_id='888227' first='Keelan' last='Wettstain'] added 12 kills for Apollo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Apollo hosts Henderson County on Monday at 6 p.m. CST game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4th Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bowling Green 3, Greenwood 0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-12)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='212192' first='Amirra' last='Bailey'] smacked down 13 kills to go with six assisted blocks and one solo to lift the Purples to another region crown. Region tournament MVP [player_tooltip player_id='577773' first='Chayse' last='Gilliland'] and [player_tooltip player_id='276175' first='Morgan' last='Rockrohr'] had 11 kills each. Gilliland led Bowling Green with 10 digs and three aces with Rockrohr recording eight. [player_tooltip player_id='741315' first='JoEllen' last='Marshall'] dished off 15 assists and [player_tooltip player_id='850607' first='Reese' last='Romine'] had 14.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bowling Green (37-3) hosts McCracken County on Monday at 6 p.m. CST.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5th Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elizabethtown 3, Central Hardin 0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-16)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers swept the Bruins to make it back to the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MaKenna Brown served five aces to go with 12 digs and libero [player_tooltip player_id='761937' first='Lexi' last='Davis'] dug up 20 balls. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='533345' first='Addison' last='Janes'] recorded 33 assists with [player_tooltip player_id='212253' first='Jessica' last='Smallwood'] recording 22 kills and eight digs and [player_tooltip player_id='748731' first='Maci' last='Singleton'] pounding down 10 kills to go with seven solo blocks. Smallwood also had three aces and [player_tooltip player_id='533346' first='Grace' last='Godfrey'] dug up eight balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elizabethtown (29-9) travels to North Oldham on Monday for a 6:30 p.m. EST game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>6th Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mercy 3, Holy Cross (Louisville) 1 (25-20, 25-14, 19-25, 25-16)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='479273' first='Mady' last='Yaden'] pounded down 22 kills and [player_tooltip player_id='484254' first='Alli' last='Riegling'] had 12 to go with 18 digs to lift the Jaguars to the state record 46th state tournament berth. [player_tooltip player_id='479299' first='Addison' last='Davis'] had 26 assists and [player_tooltip player_id='544366' first='Addison' last='Randol'] recorded 10.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mercy (28-10) travels to Assumption on Monday for a 7 p.m. game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>7th Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assumption 3, Sacred Heart 0 (25-10, 25-17, 25-16)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rockets had 14 aces to win a fourth straight region crown. [player_tooltip player_id='611724' first='Brooke' last='Codey'] had four with [player_tooltip player_id='212396' first='Emily' last='Keiran'] and [player_tooltip player_id='212400' first='Jillian' last='Bohannon'] recording three each. Codey also had a team-high 15 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption (36-4) hosts Mercy on Monday at 7 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8th Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>North Oldham 3, Eminence 0 (25-22, 27-25, 25-20)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mustangs (24-11) used their size to bolt the way to a second straight region crown. [player_tooltip player_id='706522' first='Vita' last='Sensenbrenner'] had 14 kills with [player_tooltip player_id='212386' first='Reagan' last='Baxter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='484260' first='Lilah' last='Anthony'] recording 11 each. Sensenbrenner and Thompson had 14 digs each with [player_tooltip player_id='724992' first='Berkeley' last='Baxter'] recording 24 assists and four aces with [player_tooltip player_id='885831' first='Chloe' last='Clark'] putting up 12.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Oldham hosts Elizabethtown on Monday at 6:30 p.m.</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":["776415"],"_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-6908177de943a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kirtley is a pure bump and overhead passer for the Colonels. Kirtley sets her feet to make on-target sets including back sets. Kirtley can also help Henderson County execute tandems. Kirtley adds in powerful serves for aces and has good timing on her blocks. Kirtley has 492 assists, 186 digs and 56 aces for the Colonels on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["534774"],"_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-6908177de94cc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fortener has helped the E-gals form a sound defense on the way to a region crown. Her consistency has helped her develop trust with her teammates. Fortener only dives when needed, staying under control for two to three-point passes. Fortener handles hard cross shots and deceptive tip shots. Fortener has 210 digs on the season for Apollo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["276175"],"_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-6908177de9528"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rockrohr gives the Purples solid all-around play. She makes crisp two to three-point passes then gets in position to deliver solid shots from the pins and middle. Rockrohr also plays some beach volleyball allowing her to take unique shots. Rockrohr uses a good vertical to make sound double blocks. Rockrohr also delivers solid line drive serves. Rockrohr has 285 kills, 33 blocks, 253 digs and 90 aces, helping the Purples to another region crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["594451"],"_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-6908177de9594"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holley (pictured) has helped solidify the Elizabethtown defense this season. She lines her body up to balls then makes crisp two to three-point passes. Holly handles all different types of sort and hard hits. Holley has 101 digs on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["885831"],"_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-6908177de95e4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Clark has stepped into an important role for the Mustangs and delivered. Clark puts balls at the tops of swings so hitters can put balls over and around blockers. Clark does a variety of sets to keep defenses guessing. Clark starts up the offensive flow with nice first touches. Clark has 390 assists and 99 digs on the season for North Oldham.</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 -->