11th Region Recap: LexCath, Dunbar stayed at top

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lexington Catholic Knights and Paul Laurence Dunbar Bulldogs wound up meeting for another region crown after making it out of the tough 43rd District.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lexington Catholic (33-5 overall) came into the season favored to repeat as champions. The Knights not only did that, but also won the in-season 2A state championship and drove to the state semifinals for the first time in program history. The Knights graduate libero [player_tooltip player_id='741875' first='Maddy' last='Warner'], defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='874997' first='Finley' last='Quinn'] and the top two kills leaders in [player_tooltip player_id='212387' first='Ella' last='Blackburn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='212388' first='Payton' last='Avilez']. However, setter [player_tooltip player_id='603863' first='Charlotte' last='Hall'], standout middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='535172' first='Miller' last='Duncan'] along with [player_tooltip player_id='768460' first='Madeline' last='Sisk'] return. Expect the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='778170' first='Bella' last='Tipton'], [player_tooltip player_id='774758' first='Noah' last='Cecil'] and [player_tooltip player_id='851603' first='Anna' last='Wethington'] to step into big roles next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dunbar (22-18) had some growing pains, but still managed to win a fifth straight 43rd District title. Top hitter [player_tooltip player_id='535210' first='Mia' last='Pendley'], setter [player_tooltip player_id='912835' first='Ava' last='Martha'] and libero [player_tooltip player_id='484320' first='Peyton' last='Beatty'] return. Senior hitters [player_tooltip player_id='276177' first='Sadie' last='Stuart'], [player_tooltip player_id='880009' first='Sloan' last='Atkins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='827257' first='Makenzie' last='Lowe'] graduate along with defensive specialist Mia Claire Barnes. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='727151' first='Noelle' last='Davis'] may be ready to step into a hitting role this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Great Crossing (25-13) won its seventh straight 41st District championship since the school opened in 2019. The Warhawks did it with two setters in senior [player_tooltip player_id='792638' first='Brooklyn' last='Walls'] and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='662587' first='Clarke' last='McDonald']. The Warhawks graduate kills leader [player_tooltip player_id='343939' first='Erin' last='Thomas'], [player_tooltip player_id='807714' first='Rylie' last='Roby'], [player_tooltip player_id='479272' first='Emily' last='Erwin'] and libero [player_tooltip player_id='774977' first='Jenna' last='Browning']. However, Great Crossing returns hitters [player_tooltip player_id='612084' first='Kinsley' last='VanGuilder'], [player_tooltip player_id='535187' first='Gabrielle' last='Bray'], [player_tooltip player_id='850641' first='Anniston' last='Morris'], [player_tooltip player_id='790629' first='Hadley' last='Tyson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='850975' first='Devynne' last='Smith']. Defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='511012' first='Alexis' last='Ingle'] hopes to step in and have a strong senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Frederick Douglass (17-16) saw Tori Hanson take over as head coach. The Broncos struggled some, but played good volleyball at the end on the way to winning a third straight 42nd District crown. The main setter in Olivia Orr, libero [player_tooltip player_id='486904' first='Ava' last='Simonsen'] along with two defensive specialists Olivia Otto and [player_tooltip player_id='663275' first='Lilly' last='Cowing'] graduate along with hitter [player_tooltip player_id='827115' first='Logan' last='Dunham']. However, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='611969' first='Jordan' last='McCrary'] looks ready to step into the main setter role and junior [player_tooltip player_id='776638' first='Shelby' last='Mays'] is a candidate to take over the libero role. The Broncos return three sound hitters in Uriah Holman-Allen, [player_tooltip player_id='890370' first='Maryn' last='Dunham'] and [player_tooltip player_id='918929' first='Daleigh' last='Johnson'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sayre (29-9) put together a nice season behind the multi-talented senior [player_tooltip player_id='533377' first='Eli' last='Powell'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='535188' first='Brooke' last='Barntsen']. It also helped that freshman [player_tooltip player_id='892813' first='Decker' last='Kok'] could come in and set both of them. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='892807' first='Aubrey' last='Greathouse'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='774762' first='Margot' last='Kinkead'] also return next season along with freshman defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='886496' first='Jace' last='Spencer']. Sound defensive specialists [player_tooltip player_id='892190' first='Phoebe' last='Barlow'] and Ellie Hiler graduate in the spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madison Central (22-13) won a fifth straight 44th District crown, but drew Lexington Catholic in the region quarterfinals and would up losing in that round again. However, the Indians return setter [player_tooltip player_id='603592' first='Josee' last='Campbell'] along with three powerful hitters in [player_tooltip player_id='535190' first='Bella' last='Morrett'], [player_tooltip player_id='776212' first='Teegan' last='Sulfridge'] and [player_tooltip player_id='816000' first='Addison' last='Neal']. Libero [player_tooltip player_id='226852' first='Aubrey' last='Donald'] graduates along with [player_tooltip player_id='831886' first='Emily' last='Steele'] and Maribeth Wilson. However, Reille Parks and Eileen Goucher return in the back row for Madison Central.</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":["768460"],"_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-693cc38aa4949"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sisk (pictured) does a good job locating balls with precision on the go and nine ball routes. Sisk hits the back row on crosses and line shots forcing defensive specialists to play back. When that happens, Sisk can tip to shallow parts of the court and the middle. Sisk brings great enthusiasm to the court. Sisk also makes things happen out of system. Sisk had 118 kills for the Knights this past season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["727151"],"_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-693cc38aa4a3c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Davis looks to step into a bigger role for the Bulldogs this fall. Davis sends hard crosses to the lines and hits balls off blocks for big points. Davis has great techniques on her blocking and brings tremendous enthusiasm to the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["511012"],"_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-693cce4d9ea4e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ingle hopes to put together another sound club season. Ingle may have missed some of the high school season with an injury, but she showed good signs. Ingle lines her arms up to balls well and makes sound two to three-point passes. Ingle makes the simple passes. Ingle puts up good sets when the team is out of system. Ingle is a sound server hitting balls to different zones and consistently finding holes in defenses for aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["918929"],"_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-693ced38e9117"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Johnson gave the Broncos a nice option in the middle. She executes ones and back sets with good precision. Johnson deposits both to different parts of the court and off blockers for big points. Johnson also forms nice double blocks with teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["892807"],"_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-693ced38e9177"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greathouse helps the Spartans control the net with a nice vertical. She takes huge rips on go routes to the back row from the middle and the pins. Greathouse also has good timing on her blocking. Greathouse slows balls down for defensive specialists. She does a good job placing overpassed balls away from defenders.</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 -->