Dunbar volleyball three-peats in 43rd District; Douglass claims its first title in 42nd
Paul Laurence Dunbar rolled to its third straight 43rd District volleyball title on Thursday and will be one of favorites at next week’s 11th Region Tournament, where it will be the semifinals and finals host.
Joining the Bulldogs will be 42nd District champion Frederick Douglass, who dominated Sayre in their district finals match and seems to have fully recovered from their midseason troubles.
But Sayre made program history just by being in the 42nd championship game. No Spartans team had advanced past the district semifinals since the program was founded in 2013.
Lexington Catholic, who lost in straight sets to Dunbar in the 43rd finals, will be making its second straight region appearance after more than a decade away.
Dunbar ranks as the No. 3 team in the state, according to the latest Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association poll. The 11th Region tourney will be packed with top teams, including No.5 Great Crossing, No. 16 Douglass and No. 19 Lexington Catholic
Here’s a recap of how Lexington’s teams advanced to next week’s regional.
Douglass claims its first district crown
Stay the course.
That’s been the goal for Frederick Douglass volleyball this season. One that’s helped a talented, experienced roster persevere through adversity and make it all the way to Thursday’s 42nd District title game.
There, the Broncos won the program’s first district championship by defeating Sayre in three sets (25-15, 25-10, 25-14) as tournament hosts at The Farm.
After two consecutive district runner-up trophies, Douglass’ roster — led by six seniors — was ready to take it to the next level. Tournament MVP Addison Jarvis said the championship came at the perfect moment.
“It means the world,” Jarvis said. “I think this couldn’t have come at a better time. I know in the past seasons, we were favored to win and we came up short, unfortunately. But I feel like, mentally, we really just needed this win this season.”
The title, which lifted the Broncos’ overall record to 23-12, comes during a season marked by staff upheaval and the midseason hiring of former Georgetown College coach Nick Griffin in an interim role.
“This team has gone through so much this year,” Griffin said. “So, you know, coming in and seeing the talent that was there and just trying to tell them like, ‘Hey, stay the course. Work hard. Let the talent show,’ and it’s been fun to see how it’s all come together. And the team has really bonded, and it’s been a fun ride.”
Sayre had a difficult time containing a powerful Broncos offense orchestrated by all-tournament selections Jarvis, Masyn Thayer, Ava Simonsen and Butler commit Torii Starks.
“Even when I woke up,” Starks said, “I was like, ‘I want to win. I want to be the first team that would win the trophy and win the district.’ So that’s where our mentality was. I even texted the girls this morning. And I sent them a paragraph saying, ‘Let’s lock in. Let’s win this.’”
Dunbar ready to make another run
Defending 11th Region champion Paul Laurence Dunbar by no means breezed through its 43rd District Tournament.
Though the Bulldogs topped Lexington Catholic in straight sets in the finals (25-20, 25-20, 25-20), Tates Creek battled Dunbar to a four-set decision in the semifinals (25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 25-9) and threatened to upset the whole apple cart.
“It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, you can never underestimate anybody and Tates Creek came out and peaked at the right time and gave us everything they had,” Dunbar coach Jenni Morgan said. “When you get that first game win, you’re kind of on to the (region) and you play a little bit looser that second match, which they did today.”
As it has done for many years, Dunbar (30-7) took on a host of elite in-state private school programs and also battled out-of-state teams to prepare for a run through the postseason.
“We’ve had a roller coaster of a season, ups and downs, but it’s really great to have this win under our belt,” senior hitter Delaney Gash said.
While it might be hard to relate Gash’s description of “ups and downs” in a 30-win season, that’s simply a testament to the standard Dunbar holds itself to. No public school has won a state volleyball title. Dunbar finished runner-up last year. They want more.
Five of Dunbar’s seven losses came to out-of-state powerhouses. The others were to No. 2 Assumption and No. 4 Sacred Heart.
“Those are the games we want to play, win or lose, because those are the high-level teams we hope to face (in the postseason),” Gash said. “This is all good competition. We’re just taking it one game at a time.”
Sayre makes history
Sayre’s five-set victory over Bryan Station on Wednesday (25-16, 19-25, 25-20, 13-25, 16-14) delivered the Spartans’ first trip to the 42nd District championship game and their first 11th Region Tournament berth.
“It really feels amazing. I feel like all of our hard work is finally paying off,” said Reese Collins, the senior Buffalo commit, who served the Spartans final point in the fifth set and had an ace during an earlier rally that helped put them out front for the stretch run. “I’m just really excited to go out with a bang with the rest of the girls. … We’re going to try to go as far as we can, but making program history is a feat in itself.”
Sayre began its volleyball program in 2013. Coach Leigh Nahra took over the team in 2016 and has delivered winning records each year, but the Spartans struggled against district foes until back-to-back semifinals appearances leading into this season.
“There’s more of a commitment to the sport and there’s leadership like Reese — she leads by example,” Nahra said. “We can’t wait to get back in the gym.”
Lexington Catholic returns
Lexington Catholic (25-11) earned its second straight 43rd District finals and region tournament berth with a straight sets victory over Lafayette on Tuesday (25-15, 25-19, 25-23).
Senior setter Allie Kronenberg could not contain excitement about moving on in the postseason or her smile after the Lafayette win.
“It’s such an honor. I knew it from the beginning, but I feel even better right now,” she said.
11th Region Tournament
Monday’s quarterfinals
Hosted by each district champion
7 p.m.: Franklin County (23-10) at Paul Laurence Dunbar (30-7)
7 p.m.: Sayre (28-7) at Madison Central (25-10)
7 p.m.: Lexington Catholic (25-10) at Great Crossing (30-2)
7 p.m.: Madison Southern (10-15) at Frederick Douglass (23-12)
Tuesday’s semifinals
At Paul Laurence Dunbar
6 p.m.: Franklin County-Paul Laurence Dunbar winner vs. Sayre-Madison Central winner
7:30 p.m.: Lexington Catholic-Great Crossing winner vs. Madison Southern-Frederick Douglass winner
Thursday’s finals
At Paul Laurence Dunbar
7 p.m.: Championship match
