State volleyball quarterfinals preview: Senior-laden team’s chemistry key to success
After winning the 11th Region title last week and actually getting to play what passes for a full season during a global pandemic this year, Henry Clay seniors and sisters Abby and Emma Shadwick said they really couldn’t ask for anything more.
But there’s more out there.
And Henry Clay, the No. 4 team in the state, according to the last coaches’ poll, heads into Friday’s quarterfinals of the KHSAA State Volleyball Tournament in Winchester with a chance to get it.
“It feels good,” Emma Shadwick said of the team’s preparation going into this weekend. “Because I think the team could tweak a few things, and if we’re really good in practice, get in there and focus and get some hours in, I really think we can improve that 2 percent more, which is what Coach (Dale) Grupe likes to focus on every practice. Just get 2 percent better.”
Abby Shadwick has already done something only one other public school player has done in earning Ms. Volleyball honors from the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association this week.
“I have to shout out my coaches, my family, my supporters and especially my twin sister, Emma. She and I have just pushed each other up and up and up through the years just to get better,” Abby Shadwick said of the Ms. Volleyball honor.
Emma Shadwick also earned an All-State First Team spot and Ellery Gray was named to the Second Team.
“I’m very proud of Abby and very proud of her teammates, because while it’s definitely an award for an individual, it’s a team award too, because that’s the only way we got it — being as successful as we could,” said Grupe who was named KVCA Coach of the Year.
When the Shadwicks and Gray were eighth-graders, they got to experience the Henry Clay team that became the second ever public school program to make it to a state championship game in 2016. Those Blue Devils remain the only public school team to win a set in the state finals, normally dominated by private school programs.
“It’s nice that we have such an experienced group. Three of them actually dressed for that 2016 game, so they were around and got to see all that,” Grupe said. “Right now, they’re pretty focused on wanting to make the most out of this opportunity.”
If Henry Clay makes it past No. 14 Greenwood on Friday, the road only gets harder with either No. 1 Assumption or No. 2 Mercy in their path in Saturday morning’s semifinals. Survive that, somehow, and then No. 3 Notre Dame — or someone who managed to beat the Pandas — would await in Saturday evening’s finals.
Whether the Blue Devils can achieve history remains to be seen, but Grupe likes the balance of this year’s squad and he especially likes the team chemistry that has developed.
“I’m not going to lie to you. These 12 just get along so well,” Grupe said, noting that those who might not see as much playing time are “the biggest cheerleaders. They’re the biggest ones working hard in practice. … It’s special to see the team chemistry because you don’t always get that with people who aren’t playing as much.
“They are as much a part of this team and are the reason we are successful because they provide great leadership in the huddles. They provide great leadership in the practices. And when they get out there, we don’t skip a beat.”
That’s why Abby Shadwick likes their chances regardless of who they face this weekend.
“We want to play for each other,” Shadwick said. “If I’m having a rough day, I just come and the team is already there and they help me get in the right mindset. We just help each other. … We’re going to have good practices this week and work on what we need to work on, which is usually the little things — take care of ourselves, our health and just play together.
“And win more games.”
State volleyball tournament
Friday’s quarterfinals at Clark County
9 a.m.: Russell (20-2) vs. West Jessamine (18-8)
12:30 p.m.: Assumption (16-2) vs. Mercy (19-2)
4 p.m.: Henry Clay (21-3) vs. Greenwood (12-6)
7:30 p.m.: Notre Dame (23-3) vs. McCracken County (22-4)
Friday’s state quarterfinals
RUSSELL VS. WEST JESSAMINE
When: 9 a.m. Friday.
Rankings (KVCA/KHSAA RPI): Russell (NR/14); West Jessamine (20/46).
Records: Russell (20-2); West Jessamine (18-8).
How Russell got here: 16th Region champions. Swept Paintsville in the first round 25-21, 25-20, 25-19..
Russell players to watch: McKenna Barfield, the KVCA’s 16th Region player of the year, leads the team in kills with 238 and tallies the most blocks, as well, with 83. Sadie Hill has the lead in assists with 315, followed closely by Emily Ruggles’ 215. Defensively, the team has four players with more than 100 digs led by Jenna Finch’s 209.
How West Jessamine got here: 12th Region champions. Swept Scott in the first round 25-23, 25-14, 25-16..
West Jessamine players to watch: Emily Krintz, Ava Gdovka and Brooke Hager spearhead the offense with 250, 195 and 195 kills, respectively. Olivia McKibben does most of the table setting with 444 assists, while Annabella Pandelli has 310. Sydney Collins has 499 digs to Gdovka’s 374 and Krintz’s 354. Brooke Hager leads the block party with 76.
ASSUMPTION VS. MERCY
When: 12:30 p.m. Friday.
Rankings (KVCA/KHSAA RPI): Assumption (1/6); Mercy (2/3).
Records: Assumption (16-2); Mercy (19-2).
How Assumption got here: 7th Region champions. Swept Daviess County in the first round 25-9, 25-10, 25-9.
Assumption players to watch: Sydney Helmers, a KVCA First Team All-State outside hitter, leads the team with 261 kills. Second Team All-Stater Jenny Wessling averages 4.17 digs per game for a total of 167. Alyssa Eaton tops the team in assists with 306 followed by Whitney Woodrow’s 209.
How Mercy got here: 6th Region champions. Swept Elizabethtown in the first round 25-8, 25-9, 25-17.
Mercy players to watch: Eleanor Beavin and Elena Scott each earned KVCA First Team All-State honors with Fallan Lanham as a Second Team All-Stater. Beavin, a senior libero, was named KVCA Defender of the Year for the third year in a row. She leads the team in digs with 384 to Lanham’s 214. Lanham leads the team in kills with 190. Scott is the team’s ace leader with 27 and is second on the team in assists with 186 to Ella Teeley’s 229.
HENRY CLAY VS. GREENWOOD
When: 4 p.m. Friday.
Rankings (KVCA/KHSAA RPI): Henry Clay (4/4); Greenwood (14/79).
Records: Henry Clay (21-3); Greenwood (12-6).
How Henry Clay got here: 11th Region champions. Swept Corbin in the first round 25-7, 25-5, 25-7.
Henry Clay players to watch: Abby Shadwick was named KVCA’s Ms. Volleyball and twin sister Emma is also a First Team All-State player. Setter Ellery Gray was Second Team All-State and led Henry Clay with 579 assists. Abby and Emma had 247 and 180 kills, respectively, as the team leaders. The Blue Devils have four players with more than 150 digs, led by Madilyn Fields’ 170.
How Greenwood got here: 4th Region champions. Defeated North Oldham in the first round 22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-14..
Greenwood players to watch: Katie Howard is a KVCA First Team All-State outside hitter and leads Greenwood with 231 kills. Meg Gore has the team lead in assists with 397. Aubrey Packer tops three players with more than 30 blocks with 38. Sydney Keown and Katie Howard pace the team in digs with 170 and 153, respectively.
NOTRE DAME VS. MCCRACKEN COUNTY
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Rankings (KVCA/KHSAA RPI): Notre Dame (3/8); McCracken County (13/15).
Records: Notre Dame (23-3); McCracken County (22-4).
How Notre Dame got here: 9th Region champions. Swept Wolfe County in the first round 25-11, 25-10, 25-10..
Notre Dame players to watch: Anna Long was named a KVCA First Team All-State outside hitter with Emma Grace taking Second Team honors at the same position. They lead the team with 317 and 238 kills respectively, while Sydney Nolan tops the team in blocks with 77. Emily Bentley’s 800 assists and 10.81 assists per game average rank her in the top three in those categories in the state. The Pandas have five players with more than 100 digs led by Emily Wichmann’s 323.
How McCracken County got here: 1st Region champions. Defeated Caldwell County in the first round 16-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-19.
McCracken County players to watch: Jayda Harris earned Second Team KVCA All-State honors as a middle blocker and led the Mustangs with 223 kills and 50 blocks. Five Mustangs notched more than 100 kills. Piper Mullinax led the team in assists with 690 and Patti Wilson led them in digs with 223.
Saturday’s games
Semifinals: 9 a.m., 12:30 p.m.
Finals: 7:30 p.m.
