Even Keelers in Crucial Augusta at Bracken County Seed 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="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>With the positive direction these two teams are headed, more five-set thrillers could be in the future similar to what happened Tuesday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Neither team found a solid offensive rhythm for an extended period of time throughout the game. The game saw a number of free balls back and forth. Thus, it came down to the team that put more down balls over the net and the Bracken County Bears did that to record a 3-2 (25-11, 25-17, 23-25, 25-27, 15-11) 39th District in-county win over the visiting Augusta Panthers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams finished 5-1 in district seed play. The district tournament tiebreakers favor Bracken County. They are head-to-head and Ratings Percentage Index the day after the final district seed game. Bracken County won two of the three meetings in the regular season and had the higher RPI as of Tuesday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams had key hitters out with injuries. That was junior [player_tooltip player_id='805758' first='Izzy' last='Godman'] for Bracken County and senior [player_tooltip player_id='828741' first='Adalen' last='Gilliam'] for Augusta.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior libero Aleigha Leist made some key saves for Bracken County (20-11 overall). That let senior [player_tooltip player_id='535232' first='Rees' last='Hargett'] put nice sets to the likes of juniosr [player_tooltip player_id='819271' first='Sophie' last='Bachman'], [player_tooltip player_id='795859' first='Kyndall' last='Johnson'], seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1037471' first='Halle' last='Routt'] and Lainey Buchanan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"They did great. They did exactly what I asked them to," Bracken County head coach Julie Krift said. "We were dealing with a lot of placed balls instead of hard, driven balls so we adjusted our defense and were able to pick up those balls and then we ended up having to send some back like that because they have a five-man defense that's pretty deep to cover deeper tips so we had to use the front court a lot more to get those last two kills. Serving was a key also."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Augusta (16-11) saw some nice digs from the likes of sophomore libero Carlee Courts, senior [player_tooltip player_id='790857' first='Abbey' last='Bradford'] and senior Natalee Roberts. Sophomore Kahghan Hinson did most of the setting to sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1049438' first='Aryanna' last='Davis'], senior [player_tooltip player_id='603851' first='Kyleigh' last='Kirk'], senior [player_tooltip player_id='812494' first='Claire' last='Elliott'] and sophomore Samantha Young.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These five especially kept their poise on the court trying to lead their teams to victories.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["819271"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac5c7a3c2a7b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bachman (pictured) can place her down balls well when she has the right spacing off the net with her wrist snap and gets on top of balls. She terminates balls different ways including tips to open two and four zones when defenders are playing back. Bachman makes quick adjustments to angle balls off blocks for big points. She places down overpassed balls away from opponents and is aggressive at the net. Bachman sends over deceptive, short float serves. Bachman said good first touches and sets let her hit balls however needed for Bracken County to earn points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["535232"],"_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":1049461,"_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-6ac5c7a3c2af5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hargett makes plays at all six spots on the court for the Bears. Hargett often puts hitters in good position to terminate balls. Her defense is also commendable. Hargett hustles after balls, making the simple passes. Hargett can even step over to dig up setter dumps. Hargett delivered quality topspin on her serves. Hargett said it may be loud in games like that, but players can't get shaken. Hargett added players have to stay focused and not worried about what is happening around them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1037471"],"_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_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac5c7a3c2b40"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Routt delivered clutch kills down the stretch in the fifth set with her nice ball control, Routt puts balls into seams with the right touches. Routt sends nice off shots to the back row and down lines. Routt even had some nice tips throughout the game. She credits her teammates for telling her and the other hitters where to place balls. She also said it's vital to mix up hard hits and tips.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1049438"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac5bd87535df"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Davis has dealt with her fair share of adversity in life as a cancer survivor. That's the reason she plays every game like it is her last. Davis makes good things happen for the Panthers when balls come her way. Davis takes nice swings at the net and in the back row. She can even tip balls over blockers to shallow zones. Davis is aggressive on solo blocks, at least slowing down balls for Augusta's back row. Davis also has good topspin on her serves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["603851"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac5c30594b36"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kirk made a number of good plays in the loss. Kirk records clean first touches and puts over precise cut shots. Kirk shoves balls to open deep spots on the court and even landed a free ball for a crucial point. Kirk sends second balls back toward the net so hitters can place down balls to the other side of the net. She also had nice topspin on her serves.</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 and a half 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 -->