Region Championship Reviews: Regions 9-16

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was not an upset, but one region did not meet projections as Shelby Valley bested Paintsville, 3-1 in the 15th Region championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>9th Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notre Dame 3, St. Henry 2 (27-25, 25-23, 20-25, 23-25, 15-6)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Pandas four-peated as region champions withstanding a battle from the rivals. [player_tooltip player_id='312234' first='Audrey' last='Dyas'] once again had a big game with 22 kills and [player_tooltip player_id='507601' first='Grace' last='Portwood'] had 15. Portwood added 26 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='798218' first='Ellie' last='Osterkamp'] had 24 assists and 17 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='741510' first='Dara' last='Jackson'] recorded 31 digs and [player_tooltip player_id='727131' first='Kaia' last='Tilden'] had 17 with [player_tooltip player_id='379687' first='Lizzy' last='Larkins'] recording 36 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Notre Dame (29-7) ventures south to West Jessamine on Monday at 7 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>10th Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Scott 3, George Rogers Clark 1 (25-19, 25-15, 22-25, 26-24)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles (29-11) repeated as region champs winning it at the site of the state tournament. They travel to Lexington Catholic on Monday for a 6:30 p.m. game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>11th Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lexington Catholic 3, Paul Laurence Dunbar 2 (24-26, 25-14, 25-23, 13-25, 15-5)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights (31-4) continued their solid season winning the battle against the Bulldogs. [player_tooltip player_id='603863' first='Charlotte' last='Hall'] led the way with 54 assists and 17 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='212387' first='Ella' last='Blackburn'], [player_tooltip player_id='212388' first='Payton' last='Avilez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='535172' first='Miller' last='Duncan'] led a balanced attack with 26, 20 and 12 kills, respectively. Duncan added five solo kills. [player_tooltip player_id='741875' first='Maddy' last='Warner'], [player_tooltip player_id='851603' first='Anna' last='Wethington'] and [player_tooltip player_id='874997' first='Finley' last='Quinn'] had 22, 17 and 15, digs respectively and Avilez made 16.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lexington Catholic hosts Scott on Monday at 6:30 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>12th Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Jessamine 3, Trinity Christian 0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-21)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Colts successfully won their seventh straight region crown and ninth in 10 years behind 22 kills from [player_tooltip player_id='603652' first='Ashlyn' last='Crutcher'] and 12 from [player_tooltip player_id='851950' first='Kayla' last='Avent']. [player_tooltip player_id='755065' first='Taylor' last='Snowden'] had 41 assists with [player_tooltip player_id='774738' first='Ava' last='Smith'] recording 21 digs and Riley Cissell had 12. [player_tooltip player_id='801517' first='Delaney' last='Dix'], Snowden and Crutcher had eight digs each.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Jessamine (28-11) hosts Notre Dame on Monday at 7 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>13th Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Whitley County 3, Corbin 2 (25-19, 24-26, 30-32, 25-23, 15-11)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Colonels (35-5) four-peated as region champions behind 24 kills and 16 digs from [player_tooltip player_id='603744' first='Reagan' last='Isaac']. [player_tooltip player_id='831031' first='Chandra' last='Price'] and Jada Smith had 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Smith also landed three aces. [player_tooltip player_id='603768' first='Jonna' last='Rice'] had 49 assists and 17 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='603765' first='Khylea' last='Ray Collier'] tallying 33 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitley County travels to Ashland on Monday for a 7 p.m. first round game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>14th Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Knott County Central 3, Leslie County 1 (25-20, 15-25, 25-22, 31-29)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Patriots (36-2) have won 22 in a row on their way to a region repeat. [player_tooltip player_id='533386' first='Samara' last='Bailey'] led Knott County Central with 16 kills and [player_tooltip player_id='900707' first='Ava' last='Waddell'] had 14 to go with 10 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='484291' first='Zoe' last='Miller'] had 17 assists and 19 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='792174' first='Avery' last='Conley'] recording 13 assists and 12 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='276172' first='Taylor' last='Baker'] added 22 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='783771' first='Avery' last='Sluss'] tallying 15 and Kaylee King nine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Patriots travel to Shelby Valley on Monday at 7 p.m. trying to make it back to Winchester.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>15th Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shelby Valley 3, Paintsville 1 (25-23, 16-25, 25-17, 26-24)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game story recap here:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://prepdig.com/2025/10/states-kills-leaders-battle-for-15th-region-crown/","type":"wp-embed","providerNameSlug":"prep-dig"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-prep-dig wp-block-embed-prep-dig"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://prepdig.com/2025/10/states-kills-leaders-battle-for-15th-region-crown/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16th Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ashland 3, Rowan County 0 (25-15, 25-6, 25-20)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kittens (36-4) repeated as region champions going through the tournament without dropping a set. The Kittens host Whitley County on Monday at 7 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":["781585"],"_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-690825b0c4460"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Marcum (pictured) has turned into one of the more dominant middles in the state with her size and athleticism. She moves quick at the net and uses a strong vertical to block if not get hands on balls to help out defenders. Marcum goes up and around blockers for big kills and draws blockers off teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["379687"],"_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-69082615ddd16"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Larkins continuous to lead the Notre Dame offense with poise. Larkins finds hot hitters and does a great job making things happen out of system. She does all sorts of sets including back sets. Her experience in this tournament will be valuable to the Pandas. Larkins also makes sound passes and serves. Larkins has 610 assists, 181 digs and 37 aces on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774738"],"_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-69082d1e514aa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Smith gives the Colts sound play to build around defensively for years to come. Smith delivers consistent passes on the court. Smith sets her feet well then makes those two to three-point passes. She provides solid net protection to keep plays alive and sends free balls across with a purpose. Smith has 564 digs and 97 assists on the season for the Colts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774758"],"_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-69082d1e51501"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cecil probably starts for other teams, but has made some nice contributions for the Knights this year. She makes good decisions at the net taking solid swings, especially with gap hits. Cecil is not afraid to mix in tips to keep defenders honest. Her high vertical lets her get hands on balls to at least slow them down for defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["900707"],"_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-6908354543e62"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Waddell has given the Patriots balance from the outside. She moves into her hitting position quickly and delivers with precision. She hits balls off blockers and sends tough balls down lines on go routes. Waddell also makes sound passes to jumpstart the offense. Waddell has 212 kills and 175 digs on the season for Knott County Central.</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 -->