‘Wide open.’ Your guide to Lexington high school volleyball 2021
There’s a different feeling in the air this season around Lexington high school volleyball.
“I really feel like this year, district, regionals, everything is just wide open,” said Bryan Station Coach Hilary McKenzie, who brings back an experienced Defenders team to try to make a run at a historic season. “I think there’s a lot of talent throughout the city. It just spreads everybody’s chances out. I think it will be an exciting season to say the least.”
There’s already been some history made.
Sayre — a program that has only had volleyball since 2013 and has had successful seasons, but never against teams in the Henry Clay-dominated 42nd District — beat the Blue Devils in the season opener for both schools on Aug. 16.
The 16-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-20, 15-11 win wasn’t just the first time Sayre had ever beaten Henry Clay, it was the first time any 42nd District school had beaten Henry Clay since the division was reconfigured in 2012.
The back-to-back 11th Region champions and last year’s state semifinalist will surely recover to threaten this season, but Henry Clay’s loss also makes that “wide open” feeling seem real.
Four Lexington teams rank in the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association Preseason Top 25 — No. 7 Paul Laurence Dunbar, No. 13 Henry Clay, No. 19 Bryan Station and No. 21 Tates Creek.
Over the last 14 years, only Dunbar has been able to shake Henry Clay’s hold on the region title, capturing the crown five times to Henry Clay’s nine.
After getting swept in their opener by No. 5 Ryle on Tuesday, Dunbar bounced back with a 3-1 win over No. 11 Great Crossing in Georgetown on Thursday.
“I’m excited to see how much grit they came out and played with today and how much they battled and fought,” Coach Jenni Morgan said after the win over the Warhawks The Bulldogs had to scrap their way out of a couple of early deficits. “We wanted to get this game in the beginning of the season just to kind of see where we stand with the top teams in the region … I was glad to see them come back and pick it up tonight.”
There’s plenty more great volleyball ahead as teams prepare for full seasons, including travel a year after COVID-19 protocols ruled team trips out and limited games. There are still COVID restrictions and safeguards, but this season is expected to be more normal.
The Bluegrass Volleyball Invitational coming up Aug. 27-28 at Lafayette will feature the hosts along with Bryan Station and Henry Clay going up against some of the top teams in state, including No. 10 McCracken County, No. 16 Cooper and No. 18 West Jessamine.
Later in the season, it’s Dunbar’s turn to host a weekend showcase, Sept. 24-25, with challengers that also will include McCracken County, West Jessamine and Cooper as well as No. 8 Greenwood. Douglass and Bryan Station will be there, too.
Here’s a look at the Lexington volleyball landscape this season in order of teams’ preseason rankings and approximate finish from last season. All-city nods and stats are from the 2020 season. An asterisk denotes players on the 2021 KVCA All-State Watch List.
Paul Laurence Dunbar
KVCA preseason rank: 7.
Early 2021 results: 1-1. Lost 3-0 to Ryle. Beat Great Crossing 3-1.
Last season: 13-8. 43rd District runner-up. Lost 3-0 to Henry Clay in the region semis.
Standing out: Ava Jackson*, Jr., All-city 1st team, 208 kills.; Campbell Gash*, S, Sr. All-city 2nd, 597 assists, 119 digs; Delaney Gash*, OH, So. All-city 2nd, 144 kills, 35 blocks; Ila Smith, MH, Sr. All-city 2nd, 48 blocks, 60 kills; Nyla Gains, Jr. All-city HM, 44 kills, 21 blocks; Abbey Smith, Jr. All-city HM, 92 digs, 12 aces; Amanda Dawson*, OH, 29 blocks, 22 kills.
Big games: Male, Aug. 26; Notre Dame, Aug. 28; Henry Clay, Sept. 7; West Jessamine, Sept. 28; Lafayette, Oct. 5; Tates Creek, Oct. 12.
Senior Campbell Gash says: “There’s still so much more growth to come. … Our goal is state, so we’re just going to keep working. That’s what we’re looking for. We’re excited.”
Notes: Five starters return for Dunbar, including the Gash sisters, whose older sibling Peyton made the all-freshman team in the South Atlantic Conference for Tusculum last season.
Henry Clay
KVCA preseason rank: 13.
Early 2021 results: 1-3. Lost 3-2 to Sayre and 3-0 to North Oldham; beat Harrison County 3-1.
Last season: 22-4. 42nd District champ. 11th Region champ. Lost 3-0 to Mercy in state semifinals.
Standing out: Gracie DiNardo*, OH, Sr. All-city 2nd, 61 kills, 36 blocks; Emily Adkins*, L, Sr. All-city HM, 160 digs; Taylor Rode, S, Sr. All-city HM.
Big games: At Tates Creek, Aug. 24; Lafayette, Aug. 28; at Great Crossing, Sept. 2; McCracken County, Sept. 4 (at Elizabethtown), Oct. 16; at Bryan Station, Sept. 14; at Frederick Douglass, Sept. 22; Mercy, Sept. 28; Sacred Heart, Oct. Oct. 7; Ryle, Oct. 16.
Coach Dale Grupe says: “We have many, many new faces to the varsity team so it will take some time to figure it out. However, we feel very strongly that we have the potential to be a very strong team by the end of this season.”
Notes: Henry Clay has one starter back from last season’s state semis team. The Blue Devils won back-to-back region titles and nine of the last 14.
Bryan Station
KVCA preseason rank: 19.
Early 2021 results: 1-0. Beat Scott County 3-0.
Last season: 10-11. 42nd District runner-up. Lost 3-0 to Tates Creek at regional.
Standing out: Olivia Bennett*, L/DS, Sr. All-city 1st, 335 digs, 89 assists; Izzy Carter*, S, Sr. All-city 1st, 511 assists, 83 digs; Mia Saenz*, OH, Sr. All-city 1st, 126 kills, 93 digs; Ryleigh Almasi, DS, Sr. 170 digs.
Big games: Lexington Catholic, Aug. 25, Sept. 11 and Oct. 14 (away); Sayre, Sept. 2; Henry Clay, Sept. 14; at Dunbar, Sept. 16; Tates Creek, Sept. 28; at Douglass, Oct. 5; at Lafayette, Oct. 12; Great Crossing, Oct. 14.
Coach Hilary McKenzie says: “I feel good about the group of girls that we have, definitely. We have a good mixture of veterans and younger girls.” On Bennett, Carter and Saenz: “Those three have worked their tails off since they were little. They’re driven, and it’s so cool to go into the season knowing they’ve accomplished goals they’ve set for themselves.
Notes: Station returns five starters, including Bennett who has committed to San Diego, Carter who will play for the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Saenz who is headed for Tennessee Martin.
Tates Creek
KVCA preseason rank: 21.
Early 2021 results: 2-1. Beat Eastern 3-0 and North Oldham 3-2; Lost 3-1 to West Jessamine.
Last season: 17-4. 43rd District champ. 11th Region runner-up. Lost 3-1 to Henry Clay in the finals.
Standing out: Keri Blair*, MH, Sr. All-city 1st, 255 kills, 37 blocks; Madi Knapp*, S, Sr. All-city 2nd, 260 digs, 22 aces; Shae Stephens*, MH, Sr. All-city HM, 88 kills, 45 blocks; Paige Powell, DS, Sr. All-city HM, 166 digs.
Big games: Henry Clay, Aug. 24; Frederick Douglass, Sept. 14; at Lafayette, Sept. 23; at Bryan Station, Sept. 28; at Dunbar, Oct. 12; Cooper, Oct. 16.
Coach Morgan Contino says: “We have five seniors, all with varsity playing experience and a great mix between veteran experience and newcomers who are willing to learn how to play Creek volleyball.”
Notes: This is Creek’s last season in the old gym. The Commodores will have an all new school next year.
Lafayette
Early 2021 results: 1-0. Beat Western Hills 3-0.
Last season: 17-4. Lost 3-1 to Takes Creek in 43rd District semifinals.
Standing out: Katie Jacobs*, OH, Sr. All-city 2nd, Riley McChord*, L Sr. All-city 2nd; Alaina Scott*, OH, Jr.; Ashley Reeves, MH, Sr. All-City HM.
Big games: At Henry Clay, Aug. 31; at Douglass, Sept. 7; Lexington Catholic, Sept. 21; Tates Creek, Sept. 23; at Dunbar, Oct. 5; Bryan Station, Oct. 12; Manual and West Jessamine, Oct. 16.
Coach Chris Langston says: “We are bringing in several newcomers and freshmen into our rotation, so it will take us some time to figure it out. But by the end of the season we will be ready to play with anyone.”
Notes: There are no reported individual statistics for the Generals. Lafayette last made it to the region tournament in 2011 and reached the finals that year.
Frederick Douglass
Early 2021 results: 1-0. Beat Simon Kenton 3-0.
Last season: 7-7. Lost 3-0 to Bryan Station in 42nd District semifinals.
Standing out: Jamison Gordon*, S, Jr. All-city 2nd, 328 assists, 86 digs; Peyton Hollon*, L/DS, Jr. All-city HM, 134 digs, 21 aces; Nelaney Bivins*, L/DS, Jr.; Torii Starks*, MH, So.
Big games: At Great Crossing, Aug. 25; at Dunbar, Aug. 31; West Jessamine, Sept. 10; at Tates Creek, Sept. 14; Henry Clay, Sept. 22; Bryan Station, Oct. 5; at Sayre, Oct. 12.
Coach Kate Topley says: “We are young in some offensive positions but our leadership in defense and setter allow the younger players to be supported. We will be competitive within our district and region.”
Notes: Gordon has committed to Xavier. Douglass got hit hard by the COVID-19 protocol at the end of last season and had to field its JV team in the district tournament.
Sayre
Early 2021 results: 2-0. Beat Henry Clay 3-2 and Bourbon County 3-0.
Last season: 14-5. Lost 3-1 to Scott County in the 42nd District Tournament.
Standing out: Kennedy Beatty*, L, Sr. All-city HM, 226 digs, 56 aces; Reese Collins, MH, So. All-city HM, 145 kills, 29 blocks, 44 aces; Maggie Pulliam, S, Jr. 396 assists, 74 digs; Maya Borland, OH, Sr. 146 kills.
Big games: At Bryan Station, Sept. 2; Trinity Christian (at Berea, 11th Region All “A”), Sept. 11; Scott County, Oct. 5; Frederick Douglass, Oct. 12.
Coach Leigh Nahra says: “Nine seniors, and they have their sights set on winning the All ‘A’ regional tournament.”
Notes: Sayre has consistently posted winning records since 2014 and competes well with many programs around the state, but until this year had never beaten a 42nd District foe. Beating defending district and region champ Henry Clay is a good place to start.
Lexington Catholic
Early 2021 results: 5-0. Wins include a 2-0 victory over Lexington Christian in the Glacier Invitational tournament at Bracken County.
Last season: 7-8. Lost 3-1 to Dunbar in 43rd District semifinals.
Standing out: Lucy Wedding*, OH, Sr. All-city 1st, 184 kills, 208 digs; Emily Fraim*, RS, Sr. 77 assists, 47 digs; Jackie Jarosz*, S, Jr., 231 assists, 113 digs; Avery Alexander*, OH, Sr.
Big games: Mercer County (at Western Hills in All 2A), Aug. 23; at Great Crossing, Sept. 11; Dunbar, Sept. 14; Tates Creek, Sept. 16; Douglass, Sept. 29; Bryan Station, Oct. 14.
Coach Ashley Federle says: “I think we have a good shot at competing for the top two spots in our district. We have five seniors who are hungry to win, which will aid tremendously in the push for us to make it to regionals this year.”
Notes: Alexander has committed to the College of Charleston. The Knights will be looking to make their first region tournament appearance since 2011.
Lexington Christian
Early 2021 results: 3-4. Wins over Bracken County, Pendleton County and Boone County.
Last season: 3-11.
Standing out: Tucker Patterson*, OPP, Sr. All-city HM, 111 kills, 109 digs; Lauran Barber*, L/DS, Jr. 181 digs, 27 aces; Sophie Bronski, OH, Sr. 78 kills, 94 digs, 44 assists, 24 aces; Makenna Hurst*, S, So.
Big games: Lexington Catholic, Aug. 31; All “A” Classic, Sept. 11; at Madison Central, Sept. 14, Clark County, Sept. 30.
Coach Kirby Willoughby says: “We will be young in some positions and will need consistency from our seniors to lead the way … Asking younger players to step up in big ways. I am looking for our team to play intentional, consistent volleyball, while controlling the things we can control.”
Notes: Patterson is committed to South Carolina. LCA is looking for its first winning season since 2015.
This story was originally published August 23, 2021 at 8:08 AM.
