Season in Review: 5th Region

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Attend the Top 250 Expo 12/1 in Wilder, KY! Use coupon code "GrahamExpo2024" at checkout for $10 off registration fee!</strong> Here's the&nbsp;link to the event page:&nbsp;<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></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The region championship came down to the same two 17th District rivals as the previous seven seasons in the Central Hardin Bruins and Elizabethtown Panthers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central Hardin wound up winning the fourth meeting between the two to take the region championship for the second year in a row after Elizabethtown won the district championship. The Bruins (35-6 overall) wound up losing to eventual state champion Assumption in the first round of state. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='477116' first='Kati' last='Vest'] earned the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association 5th Region Player of the Year honors and head coach Bill Rineker earned the region's coach of the year honor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central Hardin graduates four solid seniors, but tends to reload. Elizabethtown (29-11) only graduates two so the Panthers expect to have a more experienced team around the dynamic 6-6 middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='212253' first='Jessica' last='Smallwood'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor County (25-11) and Nelson County (12-14) wound up repeating as district champions, but lost in the quarterfinals. Taylor County drew Central Hardin and lost a tough 3-2 battle. The Cardinals still won the district crown despite missing standout hitter [player_tooltip player_id='477135' first='Remmi' last='Cooke'] for part of the season as the result of injuries. The runner-up teams from those districts in Marion County (21-16) and Bethlehem (17-11) wound up making it to the semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LaRue County (25-13) wound up winning the 18th District over Green County (20-14) for the first time since 2017, recording a winning season for the first time in Melissa Williamson's three years as head coach. The Hawks graduate just two players, but need to find a setter to distribute the ball to talented hitters [player_tooltip player_id='696289' first='Kinlee' last='McDowell'], Maxie Blakey and Brylee Dobson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adair County (22-10) may have missed out on the region tournament, but set a school record for most wins in a season. The Indians have just two seniors and return the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='535275' first='Olivia' last='Mantooth'], [player_tooltip player_id='666959' first='Josie' last='Blair'] and Anslie Spoon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch Next Fall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["212390"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673d4b8551ef9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Warrell turned into a solid pin hitter for the Bruins this past season and will be the leading returning hitter next season. Warrell takes solid swings and can angle shots off good blockers out of bounds. Warrell can send tough shots toward the back line. Warrell brings versatility to the Bruins, also excelling as a blocker, passer and server. Warrell had 374 kills, 145 digs, 55 aces, 17 solo and 22 assisted blocks for the Bruin this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["533346"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673d54658996b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Godfrey gives the Panthers a great presence in the back row. She constantly moves her feet well anticipating balls and gets her hands up on quick hits. Godfrey moves forward quick on soft touches to consistently make solid two to three-point passes. Godfrey is also a reliable server for the Panthers. Godfrey had 366 digs and 56 aces to help the Panthers to a district championship and spot in the region championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["397728"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673d546589a04"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Thomas (pictured) is one of the most versatile players in the region returning next season. She takes solid swings from both the middle and pins to different parts of the court. Thomas can hit off blockers to the far corner. Thomas is not deterred when she gets blocked. She comes back the next play and throws in something different including soft shots to the middle. Thomas is also a good blocker helping the Knights control the net and sets up the offense with crisp first passes. Thomas had 394 kills and 306 digs helping the Knights to a spot in the region semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484299"],"_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"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673d58cc0e309"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Yates had an outstanding year at the pins for the Cardinals. She can rise up above blockers and send both hard and soft hits to the back line away from defenders. Yates does a great job hitting balls off blockers and even adjusts on out of system passes. Yates is also a reliable passer for the Cardinals. Yates had 413 kills and 264 digs this past fall for Taylor County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Maxie Blakey","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32925","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"LaRue County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Elizabethtown Volleyball Academy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-673d58cc0e3b2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Blakey gave the Hawks the necessary balance to win the first district championships since 2017. She can hit balls hard to the back line and make quick adjustments to push them away from defenders. Blakey also hustles defensively to keep plays alive. Blakey had 233 kills and 332 digs for LaRue County this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->