8th Region Preview: Region trails North Oldham, Oldham County, SK

This region has gone through the 29th District ever since the current format took shape in 2012. North Oldham owns nine region championships and has driven to the state semifinals three times during that time and Oldham County has won the other three times including twice in the last three years.   The one team that has threatened to break that string over the last four years has been Simon Kenton. The Pioneers have beaten North Oldham twice in the region semifinals in the last two years before Oldham County won the region championship.   North Oldham (25-10) appears to be reloaded with Brian Jones back as head coach after a 10-year absence. Jones said the key to the success for the Mustangs this year will be serve receiving. The Mustangs have a lot of size and power at the net if they do that consistently. North Oldham has won the 29th District Tournament each of the years in the current 8th Region.   That starts with their two defensive specialists in senior Campbell Floyd and junior Madison Conrad. Floyd had 185 digs last year. After those two, Jones said senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='477099' first='Lucy' last='Proud'] and sophomore 6-2 setter Berkeley Baxter will set up the offense.   That's when the power strikes will occur. Junior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='212386' first='Reagan' last='Baxter'] at 6-3 leads the way after pounding down a team-high 348 kills last year to go with 36 solo and 43 combined blocks. Sophomore lefty right side hitter [player_tooltip player_id='484260' first='Lilah' last='Anthony'] at six feet even is expected to be a six-rotation player with junior middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='706522' first='Vita' last='Sensenbrenner'] at 6-1 providing power in the middle and pins. Senior Audrey Doyon transferred over from Oldham County and will give the Mustangs another option.   North Oldham opens the season at home against Ballard on Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m.   The charm for Oldham County (24-13) has been making it out of the 29th District semifinals and into the region tournament. That has happened just twice in the last five seasons, but the Colonels won the region each time it has happened including last year.   Ryan Warner enters her sixth season guiding the Colonels with the luxury of building around the versatile senior defensive specialist/outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='172953' first='Shelby' last='Davis']. Davis, a James Madison commit, had 456 kills, 378 digs and 82 aces last year with junior outside hitter/defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='479281' first='Ava' last='Arterburn'] recording 198 kills.   Warner said the biggest key to success for the Colonels will be executing on serve receive so they can run a quick and efficient offense. Senior libero Laken Scannell leads the way after recording 473 digs last year and 61 aces. Senior Emma Bower returns at setter after recording 371 assists last year with senior middle blocker Mya Hunt returning after landing 152 kills to go with 57 assisted and 10 solo kills last year.   Oldham County hosts old district rival Trimble County on Aug. 19 at 7:30 p.m.   Simon Kenton (30-8) has a senior-oriented team with seven on the roster this year. Defensive specialist/outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='210627' first='Tori' last='Chasteen'] along with 6-0 outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='159349' first='Keira' last='Hans'] and junior 6-0 outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='212349' first='Jenna' last='Kitchens'] are the returning starters as the Pioneers saw four graduate from last year. Head coach Amy Marx said setting Kitchens and Hans will be a huge key to success for the Pioneers after slammed down 375 and 292 kills last year.   The first key is the first passes. Chasteen hopes to lead the way after digging up a team-high 374 balls last year to go with 44 aces. Seniors Ceanna Scalf, [player_tooltip player_id='622369' first='Gracie' last='Meyer'], Sarah Meyer and sophomores Jayden Turner and Maria Mullis could also help there. Scalf is also the leading candidate to take over at setter after recording 167 assists last year. Senior Aleayah Russ could set or hit from the outside with senior Madeline Johnson also giving the Pioneers another hitting option. Mullis, Turner and sophomore Taylor Jones also give the Pioneers options at hitter.   South Oldham (19-14) has made it to the region tournament just four times over the 12 years of the current region format, but three have come in the last five years. The Dragons even drove to the region championship game in 2022.   New head coach Tiffany Blair takes over the program with a huge focus. That's building a culture that ensures all the players feel valued and confident.   Blair is looking to the seniors to lead, especially setter [player_tooltip player_id='159380' first='Harper' last='Ash'], outside hitters Juliette Bacot, Morgan Merimee, setter/defensive specialist Jamie Snider and outside hitter/defensive specialist Abby Kate Wallace. Junior outside hitter Ainsley Hargrove started last year and Blair said freshman [player_tooltip player_id='612086' first='Olivia' last='Welsh'] should make a solid impact this year.   Simon Kenton heads to South Oldham on Aug. 19 for a 7:30 p.m. game.   Here is how the rest of the region could shake out   32nd District   Grant County (18-13)   The Braves will have a young team with the graduation of five seniors from a region semifinalist squad.   Head coach Stephanie Russell said the team is still learning to play together, making communication at all times and never giving up on anything imperative. Russell said she believes the Braves will have more success if this happens.   Senior setter/defensive specialist Joie Landrum, junior middle hitters Mallie Bates, junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='479311' first='Izzy' last='Russell'] and sophomore defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='535203' first='Olivia' last='Ginn'] lead the way for the Braves. [player_tooltip player_id='479311' first='Izzy' last='Russell'] led Grant County with 120 kills last year and Ginn had 115 digs.   Grant County plays Bellevue and Covington Latin at Lloyd Memorial in two games to open the season on Aug. 20 at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.   Walton-Verona (17-18)   The Bearcats did improve their win total by nine games in Katelyn Sallee's first season as head coach. Sallee said increasing the level of communication an court awareness will be keys to taking the next steps for a program that last made the region tournament in 2020.   The key returning players for Walton-Verona are senior defensive specialist/outside hitters Macie Godwin, [player_tooltip player_id='531314' first='Isabella' last='O'Brien'], senior middle blocker/setter Winter Vandiver, sophomore middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='468553' first='Chloe' last='McIntosh'] and sophomore libero Annie Allen. O'Brien, McIntosh and Vandiver led the Bearcats with 198, 172 and 161 kills respectively last fall.   Walton-Verona takes on Holmes and Heritage Academy at 6 and 7 p.m. respectively on Aug. 20 at Dayton.   Williamstown (10-18)   Head coach Maddie Morgan enters her third season leading the Demons with a huge challenge.   She had six seniors, but only two played in middle school. Overall, five return from last season out of the 18 players in the program. Morgan said despite having to learn the rules and other challenges, she's liked the attitudes of the players supporting each other and having fun. The hope is that carries the Demons to good things this season.   One senior Morgan is counting on is middle hitter/defensive specialist Abby Knarr with sophomore defensive specialits Lyla Feagan and Taylor Verbeck. Knarr led Williamstown with 144 kills and 153 digs last year.   Williamstown opens the season Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. against Ludlow.   31st District   Henry County (17-18)   The Wildcats won their first district championship since 2019 before losing to Grant County in the first round of the region tournament.   Five seniors graduated from the team. Junior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='594447' first='Karma' last='Price'] returns after leading Henry County with 175 kills last year with setters Josie Peyton and Dakota Fitzgerald recording 239 and 223 assists respectively.   Henry County travels to Cornerstone Christian in Shelbyville on Aug. 19 for a 6:35 p.m. game.   Eminence (16-14)   The Warriors may not have won the district championship for the first time since 2019, but they still made the region tournament for the fourth straight year.   Michael Bulgrin is the new head coach for the Warriors. He has senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='486913' first='Shannon' last='Tucker'] and sophomore libero [player_tooltip player_id='484434' first='Bryce' last='Berry'] to work with.   Eminence opens the season at 7:30 p.m. at the Cedar Creek Baptist Church against the home school LKY Saints.   Trimble County (14-10)   Stephanie Pennix takes over the Raiders after the graduated six seniors last year. A key returning player is senior outside hitter Anna Benecke after she led Trimble County with 184 kills last year.   Gallatin County (5-23)   The Wildcats won two more games then each of the previous two seasons.   Kristie Beatty enters her third season as head coach after Gallatin County graduated seven seniors last year. Senior setter Jayden Riddle is one of the experienced returning players.   Gallatin County travels to Dayton to take on Villa Madonna and Ludlow at 6 and 7 p.m. respectively to open the season.   Owen County (6-20)   Ann Carter enters her ninth season as head coach hoping to lead the Rebels back to the region tournament for the first since last winning the district championship in 2018.   Seven seniors graduated from last year's team. Owen County did go 14-10 two years ago.   The Rebels travel to Franklin County on Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m. to open the season.   Carroll County (3-19)   The Panthers had their struggles last year with just three seniors on the roster.   Kelly Tuttle takes over the program hoping to guide Carroll County in the right direction. Senior Elle Spencer and junior Josie Dale were among the team's stat leaders last year.   Carroll County hosts Willamstown on Aug. 20 at 7 p.m.   30th District   Woodford County (25-7)   The Yellow Jackets have won the 30th District all five seasons since coming over from the 11th Region in 2019 and seven overall.   Woodford County returns its top two hitters in junior [player_tooltip player_id='212357' first='Kamya' last='Mahorn'] and senior [player_tooltip player_id='210626' first='Abbie' last='Weaver'] with 332 and 204 kills respectively. Weaver added a team-highs of 385 digs to go with 59 aces. Junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='477097' first='Olivia' last='Dabney'] also returns after recording 382 assists last year.   Woodford County hosts Scott County on Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m.   Collins (13-18)   The Titans have made it to the region tournament the last three years, but have not been able to overcome Woodford County in the district championship game or get by the region quarterfinals constantly drawing region power North Oldham.   Bri Lionetti enters her second season as head coach hoping to help the Titans overcome those obstacles. Lionetti said she's super hopeful this year with the stacked roster. Lionetti said the senior leadership is unmatched and the other underclassmen know how to win. She said the key is being able to handle the big games mentally as well as the little ones.   Lionetti listed senior Emma defensive specialist/outside hitter Emma Gutermuth, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='603802' first='Lily' last='Gutermuth'] in addition to senior pin Lana Segeser and Gina Segeser as players to watch this season. Junior defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='594492' first='Mia' last='Stoner'] led the Titans with 253 digs last year and Lana Segeser had 169 kills.   Collins hosts DuPont Manual of Louisville on Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m.   Anderson County (12-15)   Bethany Hardin completed her first season as head coach, watching the Bearcats improve by two wins from the previous season.   Six seniors graduated from the team. However, two of their three kills leaders in seniors Faith McGregor and Brookelyn Hays return after pounding out 192 and 128 kills respectively.   Anderson County hosts Franklin County on Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m.   Shelby County (7-13)   The Rockets have won seven games in each of Holly Keim's first two seasons as head coach.   Shelby County had four seniors last year. She listed senior defensive specialist Bella Jensen and senior outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='253874' first='Kylee' last='Bratcher'] as players who could help the Rockets over the hump this year.   Shelby County hosts Eastern out of Louisville on Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m. to open the season.   Spencer County (7-22)   The Bears last made the region tournament in 2020.   Maddy Newman, a 2016 Spencer County graduate, enters her first season leading the Bears, hoping the experience from last year pays off as four seniors graduated. Junior setter Aubrey Snipp and senior Evie Rusilowicz return with some of that experience.   Spencer County travels to Fairdale on Aug. 19 at 7:30 p.m.    Baxter has excelled since entering high school for the Mustangs with 587 kills over the two seasons. Baxter is a force at the net trying to become a solid all-around player. She consistently works great with outside hitters for timely blocks. Having grown an inch in the offseason will also be a plus for her this year. Her work paid off as the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association voted her All-State Honorable Mention.     Anthony gives the Mustangs an added weapon as a lefthanded hitter. Her strong side on the right side of the net could throw defenders off. She is an athletic left that can put balls down hard from the pins and middle. She can also tap the ball from the left side to the shallow right side and even tip balls from her right hand giving defenders something extra to consider.     Kitchens is hard to defend because balls go screaming off her hand toward the ground with a lot of force. Defenders must respect that so much she can take power off for softer hits to find the floor. Kitchens can smack balls from her weak side to the opposite shallow side and lines. Kitchens also has great form on her blocks and is a solid passer.         Hans smacks balls quickly to the lines and angles hits off blockers. She has an outstanding slide hit from the pins to the back row. H   Hans mainly played outside at Simon Kenton, but has done well switching to mainly a middle blocker role for club. Hans has a nice quick hit to the lines and can angle hits off blockers. Hans also has a great slide hit from the pins to the back row. She can send a nice jump serve to the back line and makes opponents go over and around her at the net helping out her defensive specialists. Hans is using the club season to improve her overall play.      Davis is an outstanding all-around player for the Colonels. She uses her athleticism well to move side to side and line up her body to make solid first contacts. Davis uses her power to smack down balls offensively and possesses a strong serve to the back line making it hard for defenders to tell whether it is going in or out.     Berry dressed for varsity as an eighth grader and blossomed into a nice defensive specialist for the Warriors last fall. She digs up just about anything near her and is focusing on becoming a solid six-rotation player in the club season. She makes a quick transition from defense to offense and puts balls down many different ways. She's tough from the strong left side, especially to the side and back lines. Berry consistently finds ways to hit around taller blockers.

This region has gone through the 29th District ever since the current format took shape in 2012. North Oldham owns nine region championships and has driven to the state semifinals three times during that time and Oldham County has won the other three times including twice in the last three years.