16th Region Recap: Rowan pulled stunner against Ashland

<!-- 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>It takes digging deep to overcome a huge obstacle and the Rowan County Valkyries found a way to do that knocking off Ashland, 3-2 (18-25, 30-28, 21-25, 25-22, 18-16) in the region championship at Boyd County to bring home the first region crown since 2019. The Valkyries overcame the mismatch against Ashland in the middle to win the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='253881' first='Mallory' last='Jones'] dished out 59 assists in that game with the two main outside hitters [player_tooltip player_id='697081' first='Ella' last='Breeze'] and [player_tooltip player_id='535235' first='Belle' last='Mains'] recording 34 and 32 kills, respectively. Jones dug up 25 balls with [player_tooltip player_id='781412' first='Eliza' last='McGillicuddy'] recording 24 digs to lead Rowan County on defense. Mains had 21 digs with Breeze recording 17 and [player_tooltip player_id='611809' first='Kelsey' last='May'] adding 17. The Valkyries (32-9 overall) landed 12 aces with Breeze and Jones going for five and four, respectively and Mains adding three. On defense, the Valkyries had seven total blocks with Madalynn Wagoner tallying three assisted ones.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ashland (31-8) still saw junior middle [player_tooltip player_id='781585' first='Elise' last='Marcum'] put up huge numbers in that game with 32 kills, six solo and eight assisted blocks. [player_tooltip player_id='998722' first='Mia' last='Young'] had a great game on defense with 47 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='893930' first='Melanie' last='Kelley'] recording 15 digs and 16 kills. Junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='786656' first='Caroline' last='Lowman'] had 57 assists, two aces and 17 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='941734' first='Emma' last='Marcum'] recording 11 digs. &nbsp;Sophie Phillips followed with nine digs and [player_tooltip player_id='995530' first='Jocelyn' last='King'] had one solo and two assisted blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Russell (22-14) made it back to the region semifinals after knocking off Fleming County before losing to Ashland for the fourth year in a row. Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='535185' first='Jaycee' last='Hall'] put up monster numbers in her senior season and got help in the front row from the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='842767' first='Heidi' last='Brown'] and Bria Bradley. [player_tooltip player_id='877673' first='Brooklyn' last='Sizemore'] also had a nice season setting up the attacks with Abigail Artis and Breanna Craft making a number of plays in the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenup County made it to the region semifinals for the first time since 2012 behind a senior-laden team. [player_tooltip player_id='612180' first='Emma' last='Sargent'] set up the offense with [player_tooltip player_id='484428' first='Lucy' last='Roy'], [player_tooltip player_id='484287' first='Kaylee' last='Braden'] and [player_tooltip player_id='484432' first='Hailey' last='Dillow'] gave the Musketeers a nice offensive attack. [player_tooltip player_id='909947' first='Kami' last='Hammond'] and Baylee Willis anchored things in the back row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Carter (14-13) put together another winning season and won the 62nd District crown for the second straight year in Thomas Flannery's first season as head coach. [player_tooltip player_id='1064635' first='Piper' last='Rayburn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='797667' first='Payton' last='Layne'] led the Comets offensively with Stevie Dyer and Gracie Nolen leading things defensively.</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":["611809"],"_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-6af7afbdc6ffa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">May (pictured) had another steady season in the back row. May makes the routine passes and is not afraid to go down on her knees to dig up hard shots to the side lines. Her nice instincts help her handle well-struck crosses. May makes nice adjustments on redirected balls. May even puts nice topspin on her jump serves. May's ball control still needs some work, but it has drastically improved. May had 158 digs and 48 aces to help Rowan County go 32-9, win another 61st District crown and win the 16th Region crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1047359"],"_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-6af7afbdc702f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Compliment came in and gave the Kittens a nice presence on the outside with her ball control. The future is bright for her. Compliment does a nice job getting on top of balls and taking quality swings. She is not afraid to mix in tips to open areas of the court. A quicker attack approach is a good next step for Compliment. Compliment had 91 kills for Ashland this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["842767"],"_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-6af7afbdc7051"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brown came around this season to help create space for her teammates. Brown has a nice arm swing to take quality swings from the middle and pins. Brown tools blocks and makes quick transitions from blocking to offense. Brown recorded 136 kills to help Russell win the 63rd District crown and drive back to the region semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1064635"],"_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-6af7afbdc7070"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rayburn emerged as the top threat for the Comets this season. Rayburn has a nice four-step approach. Rayburn has nice line swings and tools blocks. Rayburn does a sound job getting up before blocks form and getting on top of balls to pound out quality swings to the back row. Rayburn can also take sharp swings on pipe plays. Rayburn lines her body up to balls and makes nice passes. Rayburn had 223 kills and 183 digs for West Carter this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["612180"],"_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-6af7afbdc708e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sargent studies defenses and makes good decisions running the offense for Greenup County. Sargent executes a variety of sets including back sets. On defense, she handles well-struck crosses. Sargent puts nice spice on her jump serves. Sargent had 179 digs, 841 assists and 63 aces for Greenup County this fall.</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 nearly three 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> or @<a href="https://www.instagram.com/prepdigoh/#">prepdigoh</a> 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 -->