Solid Contact Players in Huge Lexington Catholic at Dunbar Game

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Editor's Notes: Do you want to get in front of Prep Dig Scouts? This is one big way to do it. The annual Kentucky Exposure Tour in Wilder is Nov. 28. Click on this link to register: </em><a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/2489/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-kentucky" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://events.prepdig.com/e/2489/register/prep-dig-exposure-tour-kentucky</a>.<em> For 25 percent off, type </em>ET26Mike25OFF<em> at checkout.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This battle between the winners of the previous four 11th Region championships goes way beyond the game itself. Players from both teams often play together on area club teams. Lexington Catholic seniors [player_tooltip player_id='535172' first='Miller' last='Duncan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='603863' first='Charlotte' last='Hall'] along with Paul Laurence Dunbar seniors [player_tooltip player_id='535210' first='Mia' last='Pendley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='484320' first='Peyton' last='Beatty'] played together on the Lexington United 17 Elite team in the spring as an example. It can be challenging going against club teammates, but the teams that dig deep and find different ways to overcome challenge often prevail. The Lexington Catholic Knights (14-4 overall) found ways to do that with the 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 25-17) win on Tuesday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hall and Duncan are the unquestioned leaders for the Knights as the two lone returning starters from LexCath's state semifinal squad one year ago. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='768460' first='Madeline' last='Sisk'] has filled in another roll with junior [player_tooltip player_id='991225' first='Corrine' last='Brown'] also filling in a hitting role and junior [player_tooltip player_id='768422' first='Elise' last='Millard'] filling in at libero. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='774758' first='Noah' last='Cecil'], Allie Hamilton and sophomore Catherine Twearty have given the Knights the offensive balance they've enjoyed the last couple seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"It was super cool to see them settle in to the moment and just begin to play with their team," LexCath head coach Lane Jenkins said. "Their success just came from there so it was super enjoyable. I was happy to see them trust each other and trust the person next to them as they were going through everything."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dunbar saw some success early when Pendley and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='957840' first='Olivia' last='Belcher'] got their swings in off sound sets from [player_tooltip player_id='912835' first='Ava' last='Martha']. The Bulldogs saw [player_tooltip player_id='851868' first='Sloane' last='Barnes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='774734' first='Zya' last='Richardson'] along with [player_tooltip player_id='953909' first='Georgia' last='Faulkner'] make some nice plays on defense with the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='957839' first='Ellis' last='Stuart'] and junior Lydia Krusich rotating in and out as the Bulldogs tried to find a good rhythm at the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dunbar will try to rebound on Thursday at Lexington Christian then both teams play in the Kentucky Challenge at the Sports Center in Lexington on Friday. These players made great contact with the ball trying to lift the respective teams to victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["603863"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1044756,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab3547a0237f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hall truly puts the team well above herself. She sacrifices stats if it helps the Knights win games. Hall relays instructions on the court then encourages teammates whether the play went LexCath's way or not. Hall continues to improve her already quick touches on her sets. She tries to involve a number of hitters, but does not hesitate to send balls to hot hitters. Hall is also an aggressive blocker and does not hesitate to dive after balls when needed to keep plays alive. Hall makes the simple two to three-point passes consistently. Hall said the younger hitters have improved a lot and it helps that Jenkins coached them in club ball so they understood her expectations. Hall also said the good team chemistry has helped them come in and contribute.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["535172"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1044760,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab3557c395da"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Before the third set, Duncan danced a little to the tune trying to get her teammates loose and it worked as the Knights took care of business in the third set. Duncan runs outstanding ones and slides. Being best friends with Hall helps her execute shoots and other shots as well. Duncan shoves balls to open spots on the floor and attacks seams with tenacity. Duncan also teams up with Hall and other teammates to form solid double blocks. Her aggressive play helps slow balls down for Lexington Catholic's back row. Duncan said she and Hall try to bring the energy and the other players follow on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["768460"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1044763,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab3563984ca5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sisk has turned into the all-around player the Knights needed as the result of key graduations from last year. Sisk scored some big points for Lexington Catholic with her hard line drive serves and kept Dunbar out of rhythm. Sisk makes nice two to three-point passes and pounds balls through blocks. She has found a number of different ways to terminate balls. Sisk said when the Knights are not making mistakes, they get into a flow state and the momentum keeps on going.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["991225"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1044766,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab357c27442a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brown (pictured) has come in and given the Knights they have enjoyed the past couple seasons. Brown has a nice arm swing. Brown gets on top of balls and pounds them to the back row. Brown does a good job bouncing back from mistakes. She creates room for teammates with her ability to terminate balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["535210"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1044771,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab359e70cd54"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pendley continued her sound six-rotation play for the Bulldogs. Pendley pounds over solid crosses and off shots to different zones on go routes. Pendley gets on top of balls and attacks seams with precision. Pendley takes great rips from the back row on pipes and sends soft shots from there to the middle of the court. Pendley tips ones over double blocks and tools blocks. Pendley pushes overpassed balls away from opponents and makes sliding saves under control.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["957840"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1044774,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab35ac03e197"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Belcher has emerged this season to help the Bulldogs make another run at a region crown. Belcher sends over nice crosses and uses her off (left) hand to tool blocks. Belcher attacks lines with her high attack point and finds ways to power balls through blocks. Belcher also brings sizzle on her jump serves. She needs some work on her ball control, but that will come in time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Note from Writer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mike Graham has been writing for Prep Dig for two years and has enjoyed getting to know the volleyball scenes in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. If you liked the story, please copy and paste to X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. You may also follow us at @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigkentucky/#">prepdigkentucky</a>, @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigtennessee/#">prepdigtennessee</a>&nbsp;or @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigoh/#">prepdigoh</a>&nbsp;on Instagram in addition to @PrepDigKy, @PrepDigTN or @PrepDigOH on X. If you feel someone in Kentucky, Tennessee or Ohio needs coverage or even have feedback on the Kentucky or Tennessee rankings, please email Mike at michaelgraham@prepdig.com. You may also follow him on X @GMCgrah or Instagram @g.michaelgraham. Subscriptions give you access to exclusive content. For a 30% discount on yearly subscriptions, enter code graham30 at checkout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->