5th Region Recap: Elizabethtown recaptures region

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the 11th straight season, the 17th District rivals Elizabethtown Panthers and Central Hardin Bruins met for the region championship. Elizabethtown won it for the first time since 2022 before losing at North Oldham in the first round of the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-6 middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='212253' first='Jessica' last='Smallwood'] concluded her outstanding career with 708 kills, 120 solo blocks, 333 digs and 121 aces to lead the way for Elizabethtown (29-10 overall). Setter [player_tooltip player_id='533345' first='Addison' last='Janes'] dished out 1,026 to conclude her career. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='748731' first='Maci' last='Singleton'] and senior [player_tooltip player_id='831611' first='Ella' last='Brown'] gave the Panthers balance. [player_tooltip player_id='761937' first='Lexi' last='Davis'], [player_tooltip player_id='533346' first='Grace' last='Godfrey'] and [player_tooltip player_id='594451' first='Ava' last='Holley'] led the Panthers on defense. Other players will have to step forward around Singleton next season. However, the Panthers are known to reload.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central Hardin (26-11) overcame some question marks to drive back to the region championship. [player_tooltip player_id='212390' first='Klaire' last='Warrell'], [player_tooltip player_id='806039' first='Kate' last='Disselkamp'], [player_tooltip player_id='755657' first='Audrey' last='Stearman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='591652' first='Jordan' last='Fortner'] led the Bruins offensively. Disselkamp and Stearman will be back next year. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='212389' first='Graci' last='Blair'] graduates, but the other setter in Ramsey Nickell returns. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='484295' first='Katelynn' last='Camenzind'], [player_tooltip player_id='876092' first='Rylie' last='Conley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='603785' first='Addison' last='Sego'] led the Bruins defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bethlehem (28-9) had a great season winning the All "A" 5th Region crown and won the 19th District championship before losing in the 5th Region semifinals. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='752886' first='Allie' last='Thompson'] along with hitters [player_tooltip player_id='781050' first='Kate' last='Lancaster'], [player_tooltip player_id='781053' first='Abby' last='Logsdon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='782755' first='Aubrey' last='Spalding'] graduate. However, dynamic setter [player_tooltip player_id='756992' first='Matti' last='Deopere'] along with hitters [player_tooltip player_id='603333' first='Alexis' last='Lanz'] and [player_tooltip player_id='781046' first='Sloane' last='Smith'] return. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='783453' first='Avery' last='Jennings'] is just a sophomore. [player_tooltip player_id='517983' first='Julianne' last='Heller'], [player_tooltip player_id='800979' first='Annalyn' last='Cambron'] and Maddie Krill are also key returning players on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomas Nelson (25-13) made it back to the 5th Region Tournament semifinals for the first time since 2020. Top hitters [player_tooltip player_id='752987' first='Morgan' last='Ballard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='788988' first='Claya' last='Downs'] return along with junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='774748' first='Hadley' last='Brooks'] next season. The Generals graduate eight seniors including twin sisters [player_tooltip player_id='533368' first='Elle' last='Osborne'] at setter and [player_tooltip player_id='533370' first='Tori' last='Osborne'] at outside hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor County (20-13) battled some key injuries this season, but still managed to win a fourth straight 20th District crown. The tough [player_tooltip player_id='484299' first='Madelynn' last='Yates'] returns next season along with [player_tooltip player_id='754825' first='Nell' last='Coyle'], Sophie Hayes, [player_tooltip player_id='755641' first='Claire' last='Melton'] and Abigayle Wilcher. [player_tooltip player_id='818983' first='Sky' last='Houk'], [player_tooltip player_id='607229' first='Eden' last='Bland'] and Aleecia Knezevic are the key graduating players for the Cardinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adair County (29-8) once again set the school record for wins in a season. The Indians made the region tournament for the first time in program history and fell just a few plays shot of the first district crown in program history. The top two hitters in [player_tooltip player_id='535275' first='Olivia' last='Mantooth'] and [player_tooltip player_id='666959' first='Josie' last='Blair'] return along with Addison Bowman. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='793716' first='Kinzlee' last='Akin'], setter Anslie Spoon and hitter [player_tooltip player_id='828879' first='Addison' last='Spoon']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["748731"],"_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-6938e0a447af1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Singleton has athletic genes and has turned into a reliable weapon for Elizabethtown. Singleton has a quick arm swing and it shows on ones. She deposits them to different parts of the court. Singleton is also an effective blocker. Singleton had 286 kills and 107 solo blocks for the Panthers this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["876092"],"_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-6938e5105ce98"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Conley did a good job stepping into a huge role and helping the Bruins form a usually solid defense. Conley makes the simple passes and has shown she can handle well-struck balls. Conley moves her feet well on the court. She can shuffle back quickly and make nice overhead passes on attempted shoves to corners. Conley had 262 digs for Central Hardin this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["800979"],"_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-6938e5105cf2b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cambron has turned into a reliable defender for the Banshees. Cambron sets her feet well and steps into balls to make good passes. Cambron is not afraid to lung to keep plays alive, often under control. Cambron had 115 digs for the Banshees this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["755641"],"_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-6938e6210fc26"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Melton (pictured) put together a solid season for the Cardinals on first touches. Melton anticipates balls well and goes hard after them. She handles hard and softly hit balls. Melton can make nice out of system sets. Melton had 426 digs for Taylor County this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["535275"],"_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-6938eea2776e7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mantooth has played a big role in leading the Indians to new heights. She rips balls to different parts of the court and plays sound net defense. Mantooth can make crisp passes when the teams need them. Her energy on the court is contagious. Mantooth had 389 kills and 225 digs for Adair County this past fall.</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 -->