Eighth Region Quarterfinals: Simon Kenton, Collins record wins

Attend the Top 250 Expo 12/1 in Wilder, KY! Use coupon code "GrahamExpo2024" at checkout for $10 off registration fee! Here's the link to the event page: <a href="https://events.prepdig.com/e/1299/register/kentucky-top-250-expo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://events.prepdig.com/e/1299/register/kentucky-top-250-expo</a>   Blind draws are often about luck. In some cases with region tournaments, they lead to unfortunate region quarterfinal draws.   One season after meeting for the region championship, the 32nd District champion Simon Kenton Pioneers and 29th District runner-up Oldham County Colonels knew there was a one-in-three chance they'd meet in the quarterfinals and surely enough, they drew each other Saturday for the late game Tuesday at Eminence. Simon Kenton ended up avenging that region championship loss three times this season including the latest one.   Collins won the 30th District for the first time since 2018 ending Woodford County's run of five straight since joining the district in 2019. The Titans followed that up with their first region tournament win since 2017.   Simon Kenton (29-5) and Collins (21-12) square off at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday back at Eminence. The Pioneers won both meetings in the tournament at Henry County on Sept. 7.   Simon Kenton 3, Oldham County 1 (25-21, 25-17, 13-25, 25-17)   The Pioneers have played like a team determined to climb mountains all season and took that same focus into the game Tuesday.   [player_tooltip player_id='210627' first='Tori' last='Chasteen'] once again led the Pioneers defensively with a number of others such as twin sisters [player_tooltip player_id='622369' first='Gracie' last='Meyer'] and Sarah Meyer making key digs throughout the game. Ceanna Scalf and Sarah Meyer then set things up at the net with great passes with [player_tooltip player_id='212349' first='Jenna' last='Kitchens'], [player_tooltip player_id='159349' first='Keira' last='Hans'] and Scalf putting away a number of balls against a good Colonels defense. Scalf finished with a good all-around game serving up aces.   A big difference came at the net with Pioneers out-blocking the Colonels, 7-3. Madeline Johnson had three blocks with Hans and Taylor Jones rejecting two each. They came at key times in the game.   Oldham County (24-9) entered the game without one of the top hitters in junior [player_tooltip player_id='479281' first='Ava' last='Arterburn'], who's been battling sickness in recent weeks. [player_tooltip player_id='172953' first='Shelby' last='Davis'] and Mya Hunt more than tried to make up for that with solid swings. The Colonels had a lot of success running quicks from setter Ella Regenhold to Hunt in the middle. In the fourth game, Simon Kenton blocked some and dug some of them up.   Davis had a solid all-around game with libero Laken Scannell digging up a number of hard hits, especially in the third and fourth games. The Colonels saw other players do a number of little things to give them a chance.   The Colonels graduate eight seniors this fall. They are Davis, Hunt, Scannell, Emma Bower, Addison Deaves, Charli Mingus, Haley Wood and Kailey Sturgeon.   Collins 3, Eminence 1 (25-15, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17)   The Titans were able to give the Warriors a lot of different looks out of their 6-2 attack and it paid off. [player_tooltip player_id='603802' first='Lily' last='Gutermuth'] and Jocelyn Early had good all-around games and Emma Gutermuth led the way defensively and serving. Ava Sellers helped control the net and got in some good swings along with [player_tooltip player_id='484546' first='Sofia' last='Aspillaga'] and Ava Sellers. Early also had a good game serving.   Eminence put [player_tooltip player_id='484434' first='Bryce' last='Berry'] at the setter spot after [player_tooltip player_id='486913' first='Shannon' last='Tucker'] left the district championship game injured last week. Berry tried to distribute the ball to the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='750417' first='Rylee' last='Shupert'], [player_tooltip player_id='790727' first='Lauren' last='Thomas'], [player_tooltip player_id='768283' first='Brooklyn' last='Smith'] and Emery Pierce. Libero Caroline Kirschman and Pierce had good games defensively with Berry recording a sound all-around game.   Eminence has made the region tournament seven years in a row in a run that includes three consecutive 31st District crowns. The Warriors made it to the region semifinals in 2022. They graduate four seniors in Tucker, Serenity Breeding, Alysiah Roth and Georgia Scott.   Stat Leaders   Kills   [player_tooltip player_id='159349' first='Keira' last='Hans'], Simon Kenton - 28   [player_tooltip player_id='212349' first='Jenna' last='Kitchens'], Simon Kenton - 20   Mya Hunt, Oldham County - 17   [player_tooltip player_id='172953' first='Shelby' last='Davis'], Oldham County - 15   Ceanna Scalf, Simon Kenton - 9   Assists   Scalf - 30   Ella Regenhold, Oldham County - 30   Digs   [player_tooltip player_id='210627' first='Tori' last='Chasteen'], Simon Kenton - 45   Laken Scannell, Oldham County - 29   Davis - 17   Blocks   Madeline Johnson, Simon Kenton - 3   Hans - 2   Taylor Jones, Simon Kenton - 2   Aces   Scalf - 3   Notable Performances    Scalf (pictured) did a bit of everything in this big win for the Pioneers. Scalf once again put balls where Hans and Kitchens could put in good swings and took some hard ones of her own including the final one to the back line to finish the game. Scalf slid on her sides to make a key dig kill in the fourth game. Scalf added in some hard serves to keep Oldham County out of rhythm. Scalf said the team did a good job adjusting to Davis' hard cross shots and picked up her other shots after Davis adjusted.     Kitchens did a great job swinging at different parts of the court and played a key role to the defensive adjustments the Pioneers needed to win. Kitchens picked up some of Oldham County's line shots in the victory. Kitchens surpassed 1,000 kills for her career in the win. Kitchens said the team has a huge mentality to go hard after balls. She credits her teammates for keeping her hyped up     Chasteen continues to be a defensive force for the Pioneers knowing she'd have to put that into overdrive in this game. Chasteen placed herself well behind the blockers then made crisp passes. Chasteen said the team keyed on Davis, watching film and memorizing where she commonly spiked balls and that proved to be key in the win.     Davis did not want this to be her last game and she did everything she could to do that. She consistently dove after balls all over the court and made some good adjustments against Simon Kenton's defensive alignments. Davis had some success hitting to the lines and corners.     Hunt gave the Pioneers some issues with quicks in the middle. She'd smack them down in one case, then tap them elsewhere the next play. Hunt tried to open things up for Davis and the other hitters in different spots.     Gutermuth did a good job contributing every way possible in this game. She set up a good number of spike attempts, took solid swings and dove hard after balls. Guthermuth is a six-rotation player and said her roles change at the spots, but she's doing whatever is needed to help the Titans win.     Segeser took great, smart swings for the Titans. She has a good connection with the setters. Segeser said while every ball is important, the next ball mentality is important because one can't change the past, but can make a better future.     Gutermuth dove everywhere in this game starting the smooth Collins offensive rhythm. She squares her arms up to balls nicely consistently making two and three-point passes. She also delivered a number of balls to the sidelines. Gutermuth said her goal is to not let as many balls touch the ground as possible.     Berry is very aggressive all over the court for the Warriors. She did a good job stepping into the setter role with the main setter injured. Berry still earned a good number of kills and dug up balls consistently. She sent a first pass to the opposite corner for a kill.

Attend the Top 250 Expo 12/1 in Wilder, KY! Use coupon code "GrahamExpo2024" at checkout for $10 off registration fee! Here's the link to the event page: https://events.prepdig.com/e/1299/register/kentucky-top-250-expo

Blind draws are often about luck. In some cases with region tournaments, they lead to unfortunate region quarterfinal draws.

One season after meeting for the region championship, the 32nd District champion Simon Kenton Pioneers and 29th District runner-up Oldham County Colonels knew there was a one-in-three chance they'd meet in the quarterfinals and surely enough, they drew each other Saturday for the late game Tuesday at Eminence. Simon Kenton ended up avenging that region championship loss three times this season including the latest one.

Collins won the 30th District for the first time since 2018 ending Woodford County's run of five straight since joining the district in 2019. The Titans followed that up with their first region tournament win since 2017.

Simon Kenton (29-5) and Collins (21-12) square off at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday back at Eminence. The Pioneers won both meetings in the tournament at Henry County on Sept. 7.

Simon Kenton 3, Oldham County 1 (25-21, 25-17, 13-25, 25-17)

The Pioneers have played like a team determined to climb mountains all season and took that same focus into the game Tuesday.

Tori Chasteen Tori Chasteen 5'8" | DS/L Simon Kenton | 2025 State KY once again led the Pioneers defensively with a number of others such as twin sisters Gracie Meyer Gracie Meyer 5'5" | DS/L Simon Kenton | 2025 State KY and Sarah Meyer making key digs throughout the game. Ceanna Scalf and Sarah Meyer then set things up at the net with great passes with Jenna Kitchens Jenna Kitchens 6'0" | MB Simon Kenton | 2026 State KY , Keira Hans Keira Hans 6'0" | MB Simon Kenton | 2025 State KY and Scalf putting away a number of balls against a good Colonels defense. Scalf finished with a good all-around game serving up aces.

A big difference came at the net with Pioneers out-blocking the Colonels, 7-3. Madeline Johnson had three blocks with Hans and Taylor Jones rejecting two each. They came at key times in the game.

Oldham County (24-9) entered the game without one of the top hitters in junior Ava Arterburn Ava Arterburn 5'10" | OH Oldham County | 2026 State KY , who's been battling sickness in recent weeks. Shelby Davis Shelby Davis 5'9" | OH Oldham County | 2025 State KY and Mya Hunt more than tried to make up for that with solid swings. The Colonels had a lot of success running quicks from setter Ella Regenhold to Hunt in the middle. In the fourth game, Simon Kenton blocked some and dug some of them up.

Davis had a solid all-around game with libero Laken Scannell digging up a number of hard hits, especially in the third and fourth games. The Colonels saw other players do a number of little things to give them a chance.

The Colonels graduate eight seniors this fall. They are Davis, Hunt, Scannell, Emma Bower, Addison Deaves, Charli Mingus, Haley Wood and Kailey Sturgeon.

Collins 3, Eminence 1 (25-15, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17)

The Titans were able to give the Warriors a lot of different looks out of their 6-2 attack and it paid off. Lily Gutermuth Lily Gutermuth S/OH Collins | 2027 State KY and Jocelyn Early had good all-around games and Emma Gutermuth led the way defensively and serving. Ava Sellers helped control the net and got in some good swings along with Sofia Aspillaga Sofia Aspillaga 5'6" | DS/L/OH Collins | 2026 State KY and Ava Sellers. Early also had a good game serving.

Eminence put Bryce Berry Bryce Berry 5'8" | OH Eminence | 2027 State KY at the setter spot after Shannon Tucker Shannon Tucker 5'5" | S Eminence | 2025 State KY left the district championship game injured last week. Berry tried to distribute the ball to the likes of Rylee Shupert Rylee Shupert 5'8" | OH Eminence | 2026 State KY , Lauren Thomas Lauren Thomas 5'10" | MB Eminence | 2026 KY , Brooklyn Smith Brooklyn Smith 5'8" | MB Eminence | 2027 State KY and Emery Pierce. Libero Caroline Kirschman and Pierce had good games defensively with Berry recording a sound all-around game.

Eminence has made the region tournament seven years in a row in a run that includes three consecutive 31st District crowns. The Warriors made it to the region semifinals in 2022. They graduate four seniors in Tucker, Serenity Breeding, Alysiah Roth and Georgia Scott.

Stat Leaders

Kills

Keira Hans Keira Hans 6'0" | MB Simon Kenton | 2025 State KY , Simon Kenton - 28

Jenna Kitchens Jenna Kitchens 6'0" | MB Simon Kenton | 2026 State KY , Simon Kenton - 20

Mya Hunt, Oldham County - 17

Shelby Davis Shelby Davis 5'9" | OH Oldham County | 2025 State KY , Oldham County - 15

Ceanna Scalf, Simon Kenton - 9

Assists

Scalf - 30

Ella Regenhold, Oldham County - 30

Digs

Tori Chasteen Tori Chasteen 5'8" | DS/L Simon Kenton | 2025 State KY , Simon Kenton - 45

Laken Scannell, Oldham County - 29

Davis - 17

Blocks

Madeline Johnson, Simon Kenton - 3

Hans - 2

Taylor Jones, Simon Kenton - 2

Aces

Scalf - 3

Notable Performances

Ceanna Scalf

HEIGHT 5'6"

POS S

CLASS 2025

Ceanna Scalf

School: Simon Kenton

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Jenna Kitchens

HEIGHT 6'0"

POS MB

CLASS 2026

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Jenna Kitchens

State: Kentucky

School: Simon Kenton

Club: "NKYVC 16-1 Tsunami

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Highlights

Tori Chasteen

KY #41

DS/L #9

HEIGHT 5'8"

POS DS/L

CLASS 2025

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Tori Chasteen

State: Kentucky

School: Simon Kenton

Chasteen continues to be a defensive force for the Pioneers knowing she'd have to put that into overdrive in this game. Chasteen placed herself well behind the blockers then made crisp passes. Chasteen said the team keyed on Davis, watching film and memorizing where she commonly spiked balls and that proved to be key in the win.