8th Region Recap: North Oldham drives to state semis

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The North Oldham Mustangs came into the season favored to repeat as champions and did just that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, for the first time since 2019, the Mustangs (26-12 overall) won games in the state tournament. They drove to the state semifinals before losing to Notre Dame. While a good number of the regulars for North Oldham and Notre Dame has experience in the Open Division in club season, Notre Dame's defense made the difference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mustangs graduate three seniors in their top two hitters in [player_tooltip player_id='212386' first='Reagan' last='Baxter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='706522' first='Vita' last='Sensenbrenner'] along with defensive specialist Madison Conrad. Both setters in [player_tooltip player_id='724992' first='Berkeley' last='Baxter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='885831' first='Chloe' last='Clark'] return as do a number of solid hitters in juniors [player_tooltip player_id='484260' first='Lilah' last='Anthony'], [player_tooltip player_id='774992' first='Annalise' last='Austin'], Addison Martin along with freshmen [player_tooltip player_id='780301' first='Alex' last='Cannon'], [player_tooltip player_id='875414' first='Hannah' last='Droppelman'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='752339' first='Kayla' last='Dickhaut'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team that met the Mustangs in the region championship was different from previous years as the Eminence Warriors won the 31st District crown and made it that far on their home floor. Eminence (34-4) won the All "A" 8th Region title and won the Bronze Division bracket at the All "A" State Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors graduate five seniors including two hitters in [player_tooltip player_id='790727' first='Lauren' last='Thomas'], [player_tooltip player_id='750417' first='Rylee' last='Shupert'] and setter [player_tooltip player_id='398031' first='Marissa' last='White']. However, Eminence does return solid all-around hitter [player_tooltip player_id='484434' first='Bryce' last='Berry'], freshman hitter [player_tooltip player_id='780582' first='Bailey' last='Hegg'], freshman setter Raegan Yenshaw and two junior hitters [player_tooltip player_id='768283' first='Brooklyn' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='815199' first='Kendall' last='Hutchison']. Junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='801369' first='Caroline' last='Kirschman'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='832415' first='Gracie' last='Hartman'] lead the way on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oldham County (22-11) made it back to the region semifinals after missing them last year. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='479281' first='Ava' last='Arterburn'] had a solid all-around season and Ella Regenhold had another nice season setting the ball. Senior hitter Sydney Baker fell one kill short of 200 on the season and [player_tooltip player_id='827188' first='Maddie' last='Vogt'] gave the Colonels sound balance. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='780296' first='Ella' last='Knight'] and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='919424' first='Kayla' last='DaSilva'] return as hitters next season for junior Ella Daniels to set. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='728929' first='Bella' last='Warner'] led the team in digs and junior Alex Williams also contributed the defensive efforts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simon Kenton (20-14) broke in a number of new players around senior standout [player_tooltip player_id='212349' first='Jenna' last='Kitchens'], including senior [player_tooltip player_id='838011' first='Scarlett' last='Cochran']. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='819729' first='Taylor' last='Jones'] had a nice year offensively with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='890591' first='Faith' last='Lockhart'] and Sophia Deaton handling the setting duties. Sophomore libero [player_tooltip player_id='890445' first='Allie' last='Ross'] along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='806651' first='Maria' last='Mullis'] and Jayden Jones started up the Simon Kenton offensive flow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Collins (18-12) won the 30th District for the second straight season. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='603802' first='Lily' last='Gutermuth'] and senior [player_tooltip player_id='484546' first='Sofia' last='Aspillaga'] gave the Titans solid all-around seasons with senior Katie Dugle doing a lot of setting so Gutermuth could take swings. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='727116' first='Ava' last='Sellars'], [player_tooltip player_id='774766' first='London' last='Bayless'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='776666' first='Sasha' last='Cox'] return at hitter for the Titans. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='594492' first='Mia' last='Stoner'] had a nice season on defense for Collins.</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":["752339"],"_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-693f55e4c1fb4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dickhaut saw limited varsity action this season, but her time could come with her work ethic. She is a lefty that can give opponents problems with her unique angles coming from the strong right side. She has outstanding cutters to lines and can tip balls to keep defenses guessing. Her arm swing has improved throughout the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["801369"],"_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-693f58bb64b09"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kirschman (pictured) has active feet. She can step forward and handle well-struck quicks and range into position to make simple passes on tips. Kirschman can lean either way and keep balls alive under control if needed. Kirschman also makes quality out of system sets when needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["919424"],"_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-693f653dd057f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">DaSilva makes a lot of things happen on ones and gap shots. DaSilva can make nice in-air adjustments trying to put balls away. DaSilva puts the right amount of power into balls to angle off blocks and away from defensive specialists. DaSilva recovers quick when she gets a hand on balls at the net. She also places overpassed balls down. DaSilva teams up with teammates to form sound blocks and slow them down for Oldham County's back row. DaSilva had 160 kills and 41 assisted blocks for the Colonels in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["819729"],"_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-693f6a0c90382"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jones showed nice potential as a sophomore and broke out this season on the outside. Jones makes a lot of things happen in the middle and the pins. Jones takes nice swings both in and out of system. She can hit sound crosses and off blocks. Jones is not afraid to go up at the net and battle taller players to win jousts. Jones has a good vertical jump to help form sound double blocks. Jones had 157 kills, 32 assisted blocks and 14 solo blocks for Simon Kenton this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["727116"],"_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-693f6c87e8590"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sellars had a nice club season and carried it over into the season for the Titans. Sellars is sound on the ones. She can smack balls to shallow one zones or a number of places in the back row with a good vertical jump. A good wrist snap helps her there. Sellars is not afraid to shove balls off blockers and out of bounds for big points. Sellars can tap balls to shallow parts of the court giving defenses something extra to consider. Sellars also uses her size well to block balls. Sellars had 181 kills, 18 solo blocks and 15 assisted blocks for Collins 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 -->