4th Region Season in Review: Bowling Green dominates

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bowling Green Purples came into the season expecting another solid season and lived up to the billing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Purples finished a solid 38-4 winning a second straight region crown and third in the last four years. They won three tournaments during the regular season including the Capital City Classic in Frankfort and the Kentucky Challenge. They finished 15-0 in region play only dropping two sets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the second straight year, Bowling Green knocked off a Dominant Five team in Sacred Heart in a tournament at Elizabethtown. The Purples beat McCracken County in the first round of state at home before falling to Notre Dame in three sets in the state quarterfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bowling Green 6-4 senior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='212192' first='Amirra' last='Bailey'] concluded her outstanding career with 367 kills, 38 solo and 93 assisted blocks. Senior six-rotation outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='276175' first='Morgan' last='Rockrohr'] finished her career with 300 kills, 271 digs and 97 aces with senior libero [player_tooltip player_id='796321' first='Liv' last='Arauz'] graduating after recording 357 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However. the Purples return the dynamic [player_tooltip player_id='577773' first='Chayse' last='Gilliland'] along with setters [player_tooltip player_id='741315' first='JoEllen' last='Marshall'] and [player_tooltip player_id='850607' first='Reese' last='Romine']. Two young players in sophomore middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='774166' first='Harper' last='Huffman'] and freshman outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='774363' first='Hadley' last='Beard'] gave the Purples balance. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='890039' first='Katie' last='Yarbrough'] is a candidate to step into the libero role. Gilliland had 300 kills, 306 digs and 52 aces for Bowling Green with Beard recording 130 kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenwood finished runner-up in both the 14th District championship and 4th Region championship with a 24-16 record. They graduate kills leader, hitters Caroline Stinett, Camera Harrison, Ava Morrison along with defensive specialists [player_tooltip player_id='792418' first='Blair' last='Alexander'] and [player_tooltip player_id='809053' first='Mia' last='Aikins']. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='484438' first='Lila' last='Whittinghill'], hitters [player_tooltip player_id='612182' first='Farrah' last='White'] and Sadie Turpin return along with defensive specialist Lauren Smith for Greenwood next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Warren East won a fourth straight 15th District crown since moving into it in 2022. The Raiders finished 2A State runner-up before driving the region semifinals and losing to Bowling Green. The Raiders graduate their top three hitters in [player_tooltip player_id='594484' first='Kaytlin' last='Miller'], [player_tooltip player_id='885901' first='Catherine' last='Montgomery'] and Kaydi Stunson along with sound blocker Presley Thompson, but do return dynamic setter Madelyn Hoffman, who had 858 assists. [player_tooltip player_id='774211' first='Caylie' last='Hoffman'] also returns after leading the Raiders in digs. [player_tooltip player_id='785432' first='Mary' last='Grace Jackson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='774187' first='Mikaela' last='Kaczynski'] are also back on defense for Warren East.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Logan County has won a district championship every year dating back to 2002 and this year proved to be no different despite the graduation of key players from the previous season. The Cougars finished 23-12, driving to the region semifinals. They graduate their top two hitters in [player_tooltip player_id='830931' first='Caroline' last='Ham'] and [player_tooltip player_id='834322' first='Kirsten' last='Harris'] in addition to defensive specialist Izabella Cron. However both setters in Kaylee Rye and Addison Pitts along with hitters [player_tooltip player_id='603822' first='Ashley' last='McIntosh'] and [player_tooltip player_id='603824' first='Emily' last='McIntosh'] come back along with powerful defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='914909' first='Maggie' last='Mitchell'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Monroe County was one of the surprise teams of the tournament making it to the region tournament for the first time since 2017 and winning a first district crown for the first time since 2016. The Falcons knocked off top-seeded Russell County in the district semifinals before besting Clinton County in the 16th District title game. Kills leader [player_tooltip player_id='533361' first='Ansley' last='Turner'] graduates along with digs leader [player_tooltip player_id='802553' first='Layni' last='England'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other key graduations are setter Emily Warren along with defensive specialists Alizzia Bennett and [player_tooltip player_id='796729' first='Maelee' last='Ford']. Hitters Cloey Hawkins, [player_tooltip player_id='838890' first='Tahlia' last='Sheffield'] and [player_tooltip player_id='843755' first='Mattie' last='Woods'] come back along with setter [player_tooltip player_id='603826' first='Sarah' last='Thompson']. Jaylee Barley is also a key returner on defense.</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":["774157"],"_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-6935058a56a14"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bowling Green had outstanding net defense and Huffman could continue to give the Purples that with her size these next three years. Huffman had some varsity action this year. Huffman has a great slide swing and is tough on ones. She has great form on her blocks and can pound down overpassed balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484438"],"_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-6935137124de7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Whittinghill (pictured) gives the Gators great diversity and leadership on the court. She puts her sets on target on a consistent basis. She adds in jump sets to put more power on balls. Teams have to respect the hitters so much that Whittinghill puts down a number of setovers on second touches. Whittinghill is also a sound passer and has a nice line drive jump serve. Whittinghill had 948 assists, 225 kills, 376 digs and 77 aces this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["785432"],"_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-6935137124e7c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jackson sets the tone for the Raiders defensively with crisp first touches. Jackson sets her feet quickly and extends her arms to handle hard-hit balls. Jackson brings great energy to the court. Her jump serve gives opponents fits. Jackson had 164 digs and 38 aces this past season, helping Warren East win a fourth straight 15th District championship and drive to the region semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["914909"],"_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-6935137124eef"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mitchell reads hitters well and sets her feet up nicely to make sound passes. She reacts quickly on powerful crosses and can make good steps forward to handle softer hits. Mitchell provides sound net coverage then backs into her passing position quickly. Mitchell also sends a nice jump serve to different spots on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["838890"],"_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-69351452b053e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sheffield delivers consistently from the pins. She can smack balls to different parts of the court and land balls with her off (left) hand. Sheffield is also not afraid to slide after balls to keep plays alive. Sheffield had 191 kills and 142 digs in the fall, helping Monroe County go 18-11 and win the 16th District championship.</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 -->