BVA, EKJV spur growth of sport in mountains

The night of November 4 this past season marked a historic night for volleyball in the state tournament for two mountain regions when the first-time 14th Region champion Knott County Central Patriots and the 15th Region champion Paintsville Tigers took the court at George Rogers Clark. It marked just the second time teams from both regions advanced to the state quarterfinals since the state tournament split up to 16 regions similar to other sports in 2003.   Both teams wound up losing in three to Northern Kentucky opponents. However, Knott County Central battled Notre Dame at the start until the Pandas figured some things out. Paintsville battled Scott hard, especially in that second game.   The growth of the sport in the mountains began with visions. Former Johnson Central head coach Kayla VanHoose founded the [program_tooltip program_id='740321' first='Bluegrass' last='Volleyball Academy'] in December of 2018 and the first club season started the next month. VanHoose said the club fielded one team that year. Six years later, there are 22 teams in four locations in Boyd County, Lawrence County, Floyd County and Letcher County encompassing one end of US 23 to the other. Club costs can range from $3,000 to as much as $10,000 per year.   "I was born and raised in Eastern Kentucky and grew up knowing all too much about economic hardships," VanHoose said. "When we founded BVA, the inspiration was from my step daughter Taylor. When I coached Taylor in high school, there wasn't a local club. The closest one was over an hour away and it was out of reach financially. That's the whole mission - provide access to better volleyball in rural Kentucky at an affordable rate. In six seasons, we have never let a financial situation prevent an athlete from an opportunity to get better. We have some local businesses that pay for players to participate. It's a team effort."   The BVA includes three national teams. They've traveled to places such as Cincinnati.   "I continue to work a full time job and so does everyone on staff so that coaches and directors can get stipends rather than salaries," VanHoose said. "We save money on facilities by leasing local community centers and have facility use agreements with some school districts. Low leasing rates allow us to continue providing good volleyball at a fair cost. I hope everyone that allows BVA into their facility knows what kind of opportunity they are helping provide their local youth."   Taylor VanHoose is currently the head coach at Letcher County Central. She led the Cougars to a 21-16 record in her first season and a spot in the 14th Region semifinals. The Cougars see hitters [player_tooltip player_id='771734' first='Calissa' last='Lowe'], [player_tooltip player_id='612103' first='Evany' last='Pack'] and [player_tooltip player_id='603819' first='Hanna' last='Eldridge'] return next season. Letcher County Central returns seventh grade starting libero [player_tooltip player_id='762378' first='Piper' last='Adams'] next fall as well. Eldridge could not say enough about how grateful she's been for the opportunity.   "I love my coaches. Everybody's nice. I felt welcome. It felt like a family," Eldridge said. "I still feel it needs to spread more. It is not as known here as elsewhere."   The Cougars used to dominate the 14th Region with 14 crowns, not including the two Whitesburg High won in 2003 and 2004 before the consolidation with Fleming-Neon and Letcher High School in 2005. The last one came in 2021. Letcher County won the 14th Region's other state tournament win in 2006 with a 2-0 win over Belfry.   The 53rd District rival Patriots have won three consecutive district title crowns and have won eight in a row in the series on the way to the 14th Region crown this past season. The dynamic [player_tooltip player_id='172935' first='Faith' last='Pollard'] had a lot to do with that.   "It meant a lot. My Dad (Bobby) has spent the last 24 years here as principal (since the 2001-02 school year)," Pollard said. "I've grown up around the volleyball and basketball teams. I watched them go to state. It was nice to do that."   Knott County Central head coach Shae Cornett said the Patriots have some talent coming up. They will return the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='276172' first='Taylor' last='Baker'], [player_tooltip player_id='484291' first='Zoe' last='Miller'], Ava Waddell and the 6-3 [player_tooltip player_id='533386' first='Samara' last='Bailey'], who also plays basketball like Pollard did.   Andrew Lafferty just took the head coaching job at Floyd Central. Daughter [player_tooltip player_id='535222' first='Caidence' last='Lafferty'] will return there as a libero as a result. [player_tooltip player_id='535222' first='Caidence' last='Lafferty'] said she hopes to motivate her teammates thanks to the help Kayla VanHoose and staff have given her and her club teammates.   "Communication is a big thing to me. I'm always bringing a smile," [player_tooltip player_id='535222' first='Caidence' last='Lafferty'] said. "I tell (my teammates) not to worry about mistakes. You have to move on. It is how you recover. Volleyball is more mental than physical. Coaches are not looking at your mistakes. They're looking at your face after the mistakes."   Andrew Lafferty said one of the reasons the mountains drag behind other parts of the state in volleyball is a high coaching turnover rate. He said when opponents run the 5-1 offense, the mountain teams end up facing taller blockers. When opponents run the 6-2, they have good right sides. He credited Kayla VanHoose for honing in on the mental aspect of volleyball with the BVA players.   However, coaching continuity has not been an issue for Paintsville with Dawn Kinner. She's led that team since 2010. It took seven years, but the Tigers won their first 15th Region title in 2017 and have won five overall before the breakthrough last season. Kinner is a 2000 Campbell County alum. She said she's been approached about coaching elsewhere, but has chosen to remain in Paintsville, which is her husband Jason's hometown.   Dawn Kinner started the [program_tooltip program_id='747806' first='East' last='Kentucky Junior Volleyball'] club. This marked the first time the club played in the Bluegrass Tournament in Louisville. The 17 Blue team lost all nine matches, but the final one went to three games. However, the team played in the Nike Mideast Qualifier in Indianapolis two weekends later and went 4-4 to place 19th out of 64 teams in the 17 Select Division. Her daughter [player_tooltip player_id='253875' first='Kylie' last='Kinner'] is one of the top returning players this fall having dressed for varsity since her seventh grade year.   "Seeing that speed, our girls are not used to that," [player_tooltip player_id='253875' first='Kylie' last='Kinner'] said. "That showed us where we are and where we need to be. It motivates us to work harder. Our speed needs to be quicker."   Paintsville had a huge breakthrough in 2022 winning the All "A" State Tournament in Richmond with setter Bella Blackburn. That marked the first time a team from the mountains won that tournament. Coach Kinner said she hopes to return to that fast-paced offense.   "The buy-in has been excellent. I've been fortunate to work with a lot of good players," Coach Kinner said. "I believe in kids playing multiple sports and not just choosing. I have some that play basketball and some that play softball. We will work with their schedules."   Shelby Valley sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='535230' first='Miley' last='Riddle'] was one of Kylie's teammates. Riddle is one of the top returning all-around players in the 15th Region. Riddle said she's been working on her blocking.   "I've heard it over the past few years. In the eighth grade, I didn't block at all," Riddle said. "I've been to camps. I'm learning how to jump higher and place hands. I've learned how to get more blocks."   Misty Riddle took over the program this past season after spending a number of years coaching middle school teams. The Kats finished 27-12 winning the All "A" 15th Region crown for the first time in school history and drove to the All "A" State semifinals. The team also won the 59th District title for the second district crown in program history and made it to the 15th Region semifinals for the furthest postseason run in program history. Misty Riddle said several Kats play for EKJV and one plays at BVA with more playing at BVA in the past.   Johnson Central has the pieces to challenge for a 15th Region crown this fall. The Eagles will have size with 6-1 freshman middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='762073' first='Macie' last='Clark'] along with 5-11 sophomore outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='603814' first='Chloe' last='Reed'] and 6-0 sophomore opposite hitter [player_tooltip player_id='813665' first='Greta' last='Lewandoski']. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='479280' first='Carrigan' last='Ratliff'] will bring back libero experience. Clark plays on the Floyd County 18 Navy team with older players.   "Playing with older girls has really helped me," Clark said. "It makes me want to play faster. Kayla has brought a lot of things to kids that don't get the same opportunities as me playing for a national team."   Clark added she's a big believer in playing high school and club volleyball non-stop. Clark added Kayla VanHoose takes the time to teach players one-on-one.   Ratliff has played at Johnson Central since her freshman year after spending her eighth grade year at Paintsville. Her dad Matt Ratliff is an assistant at Johnson Central. Matt Ratliff said the biggest hurdle in the mountains is getting kids there to believe they can be physical and compete with the players in Northern Kentucky, Lexingon and Louisville. He played on the 1996 Paintsville state boys basketball championship team.   "We've started feeder programs. That will reap benefits down the road," Matt Ratliff said. "You're going to continue to see volleyball grow in the mountains."   [player_tooltip player_id='479280' first='Carrigan' last='Ratliff'] played on Johnson Central's region championship team two years ago. The Eagles had to survive a five-game thriller against Floyd Central to win the 15th Region.   "It is about teamwork. You have to play together," [player_tooltip player_id='479280' first='Carrigan' last='Ratliff'] said. "There is going to be issues because we're girls. You have to block everything out when it is gametime."   The [program_tooltip program_id='740321' first='Bluegrass' last='Volleyball Academy'] is having an Advanced Intramural League April 30 to June 8 for grades 9-12. There will be varsity and junior varsity divisions.   Notable Players    The Eagles will have some size to do damage in the front row and it starts with first touches. Ratliff (pictured) brings back plenty of experience there in that regard and the Eagles hope to take advantage of that. She has good range and constantly churns out two to three-point passes. Ratliff had 277 digs for Johnson Central last year, helping the Eagles go 27-7 and finish 15th Region runner-up.     Osborne brings a great four-step approach to the net developing power from the feet up into balls. Osborne can put balls to different parts of the court and even take shots from the back row. Osborne also does a good job with first touches and serving. Osborne had 243 kills, 428 digs and 106 aces for Leslie County this past fall, helping the Eagles go 19-15, win the 54th District crown and make it to the 14th Region semifinals.     Baker sees the court well and delivers in a number of ways from both the middle and pins. Baker makes a quick pass then soundly transitions to offense to take big swings. Baker does a good job hitting balls away from blockers and defenders. Baker had 113 digs for Knott County Central this past fall, helping the Patriots go 31-10, win a third straight 53rd District crown, a 14th Region All "A" crown, the first 14th Region crown in school history and a spot in the state quarterfinals.     Lowe is a force at the net for the Cougars. Lowe takes sound steps to the net then unleashes balls with a fury. She mixes in shallow tips to keep defenders guessing. Lowe pounds balls from all nine zones at the net. She can even rise above blockers with her size. Lowe had 246 kills to lead the Cougars to a 21-16 record and spot in the 14th Region semifinals this past season.    Note from the Writer   Mike Graham has been writing for Prep Dig for one year and has enjoyed getting to know the volleyball scenes in both Kentucky and Ohio. If you liked the story, please copy and paste to X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. You may also follow us at @prepdigkentucky or @prepdigoh on Instagram in addition to @PrepDigKy or @PrepDigOH on X. If you feel someone in Kentucky or Ohio needs coverage, please email Mike at pnmikeg@yahoo.com. You may also follow him on X @GMCgrah or Instagram @g.michaelgraham. Subscriptions give you access to exclusive content. For a 30% discount, enter code graham30 at checkout.

The night of November 4 this past season marked a historic night for volleyball in the state tournament for two mountain regions when the first-time 14th Region champion Knott County Central Patriots and the 15th Region champion Paintsville Tigers took the court at George Rogers Clark. It marked just the second time teams from both regions advanced to the state quarterfinals since the state tournament split up to 16 regions similar to other sports in 2003.