First Round State Tournament Recaps

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state tournament quarterfinals, semifinals and title game will once again be held at George Rogers Clark for a sixth straight season. Unlike years prior to 2020 when the state tournament took place at Valley High School in Louisville, the first round games take place at the sites of region winners. A couple games could have gone either way, but there were no major surprises in this round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bowling Green 3, McCracken County 0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-20)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bowling Green's net defense proved to be too much for the Mustangs in this first round battle and the rubber match for the season. The Purples (38-3) recorded 16 blocks and nine aces on their way to a return to Winchester.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='774166' first='Harper' last='Huffman'] had three solo and two assisted blocks to lead the Purples. The 6-4 [player_tooltip player_id='212192' first='Amirra' last='Bailey'] had four assisted blocks to go with 10 kills and [player_tooltip player_id='774363' first='Hadley' last='Beard'] recorded three assisted blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='276175' first='Morgan' last='Rockrohr'] had eight kills and seven digs with [player_tooltip player_id='577773' first='Chayse' last='Gilliland'] tallying eight kills and nine digs. [player_tooltip player_id='741315' first='JoEllen' last='Marshall'] had 13 assists and [player_tooltip player_id='850607' first='Reese' last='Romine'] recorded 11.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notre Dame 3, West Jessamine 0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-18)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Pandas (30-7) served aggressively and recorded 13 aces in the road win. [player_tooltip player_id='741510' first='Dara' last='Jackson'] had four aces to go with 32 digs and [player_tooltip player_id='312234' first='Audrey' last='Dyas'] had three with [player_tooltip player_id='507601' first='Grace' last='Portwood'], [player_tooltip player_id='798218' first='Ellie' last='Osterkamp'] and [player_tooltip player_id='774790' first='Elise' last='Grout'] recording two each.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Notre Dame pounded out 38 kills and blocked 10 balls with the size advantage. [player_tooltip player_id='484250' first='Teagan' last='Kondik'] had 10 kills to lead Notre Dame and Portwood had eight. Dyas and [player_tooltip player_id='484450' first='Leah' last='Bowman'] recorded three blocks each for the Pandas. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='379687' first='Lizzy' last='Larkins'] dished out 18 assists. Grout had 10 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='798218' first='Ellie' last='Osterkamp'] recording nine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shelby Valley 3, Knott County Central 1 (25-19, 27-25, 22-25, 25-13)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kats (34-5) did not wait long for the first state tournament win in program history taking down the visiting Patriots behind 33 kills and 21 digs from junior standout [player_tooltip player_id='535230' first='Miley' last='Riddle'] and 19 kills from [player_tooltip player_id='741700' first='Sahnia' last='Linton'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shelby Valley dug up 83 balls in the win. [player_tooltip player_id='740604' first='Makaya' last='Price'] had 17 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='535231' first='Ryleigh' last='Perry'] and [player_tooltip player_id='612248' first='Talynn' last='Johnson'] recording 12 each. [player_tooltip player_id='800657' first='Aaron' last='Elkins'] added 11 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='612248' first='Talynn' last='Johnson'] recording 55 assists. [player_tooltip player_id='798550' first='Savannah' last='Church'] had three aces to lead the Kats and Johnson had two.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assumption 3, Mercy 0 (25-9, 25-19, 25-18)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rockets (37-4) made it back to Winchester for the fourth straight season, besting the Dominant Five rivals for the 14th consecutive time in the series.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='851613' first='Julia' last='Lee'] led Assumption with 13 kills with [player_tooltip player_id='611743' first='Taylor' last='McKenzie'] and [player_tooltip player_id='611724' first='Brooke' last='Codey'] recording seven each. Codey also had 20 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='212400' first='Jillian' last='Bohannon'] had 35 assists. [player_tooltip player_id='212396' first='Emily' last='Keiran'] had 26 digs and three aces and [player_tooltip player_id='212399' first='Kathryn' last='O'Toole'] had 11 digs and two aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='544366' first='Addison' last='Randol'] had 16 assists for Mercy (28-11) to go with eight digs. [player_tooltip player_id='484254' first='Alli' last='Riegling'] recorded 16 digs and [player_tooltip player_id='554148' first='Emma' last='Cronen'] had 11 for the Jaguars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Apollo 3, Henderson County 1 (25-21, 18-25, 25-22, 25-20)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The E-gals (31-10) defended the home floor behind 24 kills, 10 digs and three aces from junior standout hitter [player_tooltip player_id='484301' first='Avery' last='Gray']. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='888227' first='Keelan' last='Wettstain'] had 10 kills and 13 digs. Sophomore libero [player_tooltip player_id='612255' first='Jessie' last='Pate'] had 20 digs and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='534774' first='Lyla' last='Fortener'] recorded eight. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='845619' first='Jessica' last='Lee'] had 22 assists and Madalyn Roberts had 12. Wettstain and [player_tooltip player_id='776392' first='Addyson' last='Kirby'] had two aces each.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Colonels (28-10) saw [player_tooltip player_id='603212' first='Evangeline' last='Loffland'] record 14 kills and dig up 13 balls. Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='806012' first='Kamryn' last='Raley'] had 15 assists and 13 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='776415' first='Addison' last='Kirtley'] recording 13 assists. [player_tooltip player_id='888158' first='Emmy' last='Sword'] added 15 digs, five aces and seven kills for Henderson County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ashland 3, Whitley County 0 (27-25, 25-21, 25-21)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kittens (37-4) won their first ever state tournament game against the visiting Colonels (35-6). Ashland had not made it past the first round in several previous state tournament appearances including last year and Whitley County has lost in the first round in consecutive years after beating Wolfe County in the first round in 2022 and 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lexington Catholic 3, Scott 0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-22)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights (32-4) made history with the first state tournament win in program history sweeping Scott. [player_tooltip player_id='603863' first='Charlotte' last='Hall'] led the way with 34 assists, 12 digs, five solo blocks and three aces with [player_tooltip player_id='741875' first='Maddy' last='Warner'] adding 16 digs. [player_tooltip player_id='212388' first='Payton' last='Avilez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='212387' first='Ella' last='Blackburn'] had 17 and 14 kills, respectively for the Knights with [player_tooltip player_id='535172' first='Miller' last='Duncan'] adding eight.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scott (29-12) saw senior standout outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='212393' first='Milyn' last='Minor'] record 12 kills and 12 digs with [player_tooltip player_id='500587' first='Ryann' last='Grigsby'] recording 29 assists. [player_tooltip player_id='877753' first='Emory' last='Sullivan'] added 10 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Friday's State Quarterfinal Schedule:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shelby Valley (34-5) vs. Assumption (37-4), 11 a.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Oldham (25-11) vs. Apollo (31-10), 1:30 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ashland (37-4) vs. Lexington Catholic, 5 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bowling Green (38-3) vs. Notre Dame (30-7), 7:30 p.m.</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":["774166"],"_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-690ab76ef3d77"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Huffman was a force at the net against McCracken County. She formed good double blocks with teammates, especially against the middle attacks. Huffman can take some nice swings with her size to take blockers away from the other talented Bowling Green hitters. Huffman also exudes great energy on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["774790"],"_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-690ab76ef3e3e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Grout rose up in the first round of the state tournament and contributed for Notre Dame like she has all season. Grout sends hard line drive serves that West Jessamine struggled with at times. Grout handles hard cross and line shots, lunging when needed, but still staying under control. Grout has landed some big digs that caromed to the other side of the net for kills. Her athleticism will be key for the Pandas to make another deep postseason run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["798550"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-690abf132549a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Church (pictured) had some big aces in the win over Knott County Central keeping the tough Patriots offense out of system. Church serves to different locations on the court trying to keep opponents guessing. Church makes crisp passes when she comes into the back row for the Kats.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["845619"],"_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-690acdb995a1b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lee had a big game offensively in Apollo's first round state tournament win over Henderson County. Lee ran a smooth offense involving the two standout hitters and others for Apollo. Lee also dazzled with her surprise second hits. She sent shoves to the corner for kills and won a joust at the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["212388"],"_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-690acdb995a6e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Avilez does a great job attacking balls from the outside. She has a great approach then rips through balls sending them screaming to the ground. Avilez also makes the simple passes defensively before making smooth transitions to offense. Avilez benefits from a lot of one-on-ones at the net with the balance Lexington Catholic has.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Note from the Writer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mike Graham has been writing for Prep Dig for nearly two years 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 or even have feedback on the Kentucky rankings, 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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->