44TH DISTRICT VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW: Led by new coach, Indians looking to defend title

Aug. 13—Nathan Hutchinson

Most of the student-athletes on Madison Central's roster are very familiar with the team's new coach.

They played for her in middle school.

"This year's junior class is the group that lost just one game in three seasons at B. Michael Caudill," said first-year Central coach Janet Thacker.

In eight seasons at Caudill, Thacker's teams won a combined total of 16 regular-season/tournament conference championships. In 2021, the coach helped Bourbon County advance to the semifinals of the 10th Region Tournament.

Now, she's back at her alma mater looking to lead the Lady Indians (21-13) to a second-straight 44th District Championship.

"This is where I went to school. This is where my kids graduated from. My daughter played here for five years," said Thacker, who was also Madison Central's freshman coach in 2020 and 2021. "It's very important to me."

The Lady Indians bring back many of the key players from a district title winning team.

They did, however, graduate four seniors while another — Addison Martin— moved.

"We lost two hitters," Thacker said. "That's not a good place to be."

Central still, though, has a good core coming back, some of which will be asked to play different roles.

Senior Kierstin Osborne has moved from setter to defensive specialist.

"She has the biggest change," Thacker said of Osborne. "She's stepped up to it. She's learning the position I've put her in, because it makes us better."

Junior Skylar Whitaker has moved from the middle to the outside.

"I'm always able to move her back, but I think she is going to do better on the right side, helping us block and get more touches," Thacker said of Whitaker.

Senior Journey Miserendino (team-best 405 assists in 2021) returns at setter. The other setter in Central's 6-2 setup will be junior Emma Carter (34 assists).

"It will be a slightly different setup, same formation, but with different setters," Thacker said.

Senior Riley Campbell returns at outside hitter. Senior Lilly Dobbins takes over at libero.

The Lady Indians return a pair of imposing presences in the middle — juniors Avery Rigney and Ananiah Huguely.

Rigney, 6-foot-1, had a team-best 225 kills and 115 blocks last year. Huguely finished with a team-best 127 blocks and also 199 kills.

"I'm going to do my best to get Avery playing all around, so she can get the most touches on the ball and Ananiah Huguely will be the force up front, blocking everything she can."

Junior Jenna Campbell is battling an injury, but will also give Central depth on the front line. Junior Camille Case was the libero on the JV team last time and could push for varsity playing time.

Sophomores Hailey Jo Butts (transfer from Utah) and Brooklyn Guilbault will also likely contribute, along with freshman Aubrey Donald, who also played for Thacker at Caudill.

Thacker is set to continue in her role as head coach at Caudill this season as well (middle school competition is held in the spring).

She hopes to see even more of those middle schoolers play for her at Central in the coming years.

"Everything is different. These girls play club and have a different level that's needed to get better," Thacker said.

Madison Southern

A year ago, the Lady Eagles (18-9) came within just a few points of claiming a third-straight 44th District Tournament championship.

Most of the key performers from that squad, though, are no longer in the program.

Madison Southern graduated seven seniors and had another starting upperclassman not return because of an injury.

"Most games, we were only playing 11 people," Southern coach Jeremy Grant said of the 2021 team, which fell to Madison Central in five sets in the district title game. "So, we are really inexperienced."

The Lady Eagles are set to bring back only five players who saw any varsity-level competition last season — seniors Julia Bingham , Breanna Dawes, Anna Seals, Reagan Burns and junior Abby McMullin.

The rest of the line-up is set to be filled out with talented, but inexperienced players.

"We've got two sophomores who are starting — and they've never even played a junior varsity game," Grant said. "Now, they are on varsity. It's been a big jump."

Bingham jumped into the starting line-up as an eighth-grader and has been a big-time presence in the middle for Southern ever since.

She was limited to just 14 games last season because of an elbow injury. The senior is healthy and has eagerly stepped into a new role on the team.

"She knows what it was like to be the young one coming in and playing at that level and intensity," Grant said of Bingham. "She's tried really hard to be a leader. I've seen her even blow up a couple of times. She's a super smart player and she's the hardest worker we have."

In limited action last season, Bingham still had 76 kills and 11 blocks. She has a chance to break the program's career block record during her senior season.

"She lives in the middle and does a really good job," Grant said of Bingham.

Dawes also started getting varsity playing time in the eighth grade and earned a starting spot as a freshman. She's able to contribute at any spot on the floor and is set to start her senior season as Southern's libero.

"We played her in about every position because of injuries (in the line-up)," Grant said of Dawes. "She was an outside hitter. She was a right-side hitter. She was a defensive specialist."

Seals was the libero on Southern's JV team the past two seasons. Her steady presence on the back row should be a big asset for a young team.

"We feel like we have solid passers back there and that will help the hitting develop," Grant said.

Burns was Southern's back-up setter last season, playing in just seven games, and McMullins appeared in only nine games with five kills.

"They were able to come in and play a little bit, but they are being asked to step into much bigger roles," Grant said of Burns and McMullin.

The roster does feature four upperclassmen — Katelyn Bolin, Abby Dees, Sierra Johnson and Amber Short, but they've never played at the varsity level.

Dees has shown great improvement and will join Bingham in the middle. Short is set to see more action at right side hitter and Bolin and Johnson are ready to jump into the rotation in the back row.

Sophomores Abby Spalding (outside hitter), Jordyn Walker (setter) and Campbelle Price (hitter) will get their chance to crack the line-up, along with juniors Gracie Anglin and Lindsey St. John.

The Lady Eagles have won 15 or more games in seven-consecutive seasons, including district titles in 2019 and 2020.

With so many new players on the court, however, Grant knows it will certainly take some time for this team to come together.

"We are just struggling with consistency right now. They are just trying to play together. That's the big thing right now. Just trying to get everyone to figure out their role. There are going to be some growing pains," Grant said.

Berea Community

Savannah Spencer was a bit apprehensive when she was approached about the possibility of taking over the Berea Community volleyball program.

And with good reason.

She was only in her second year at the school. She has three small children and had never been a head coach — at any level.

"One of my co-workers spread the word that I used to play volleyball," Spencer said with a laugh. "I'm glad she did, though. "It's been a lot of fun."

The Lady Pirates return many talented and experienced players from a squad which posted a 20-10 record last season.

Berea Community's roster features six seniors — and those upperclassmen have been instrumental in helping Spencer, who played at Tates Creek and also at the club level during high school, transition into coaching.

"They know what's been successful for them," Spencer said of the seniors. "So, I've been eager to collaborate with them. I'm the coach, but I want their input. Plus, I already had a good relationship with some of them from teaching at the school last year."

Jarred Penn, who served as head coach for six years (2016-2021), has stayed with the program and will serve as an assistant.

"He is making a great effort to help me and the girls," Spencer said.

Berea has senior returners back at two very key positions.

Taylor Johnson had a team-best 628 assists last season at setter. Paige Johnson will anchor the defense as the libero.

"They are fantastic," Spencer said of the sisters. "They are just great kids."

Senior Trinity Hannon (52 kills, 19 blocks and 93 digs) returns on defense, but can play multiple positions.

"I can put her anywhere and she will give 110% percent and be successful."

Chesney Lovins and Brooklyn Clemmons return in the middle and Kayley Harrison will see action at several positions, including right side hitter.

"I think we are getting better every day. They are getting more confident. I am getting more confident," Spencer said. "It's going to be a good season."

Berea also has a strong junior class, which features Kadence Bertotto (outside hitter), Keylee Dixon (OH/DS), Makenzie Strong (middle blocker) along with Adia and Aya Fouch.

"(The Fouch sisters) are just killing it," Spencer. "They are really going to be a force to be dealt with."

The Lady Pirates have finished with a non-losing record for four-straight seasons.

Spencer believes they have the experience, talent and work ethic to keep that streak going.

"I really think my varsity girls will get as many wins as they did last year, if not more," Spencer said. "The girls have already made a lot of progress."

Model

The Model Laboratory volleyball team didn't win a match during its first two seasons.

The Lady Patriots were 0-16 in 2019.

And they were 0-15 in 2020.

Those struggles were building up to something, though.

Model got that first victory last season — and went on to post a very impressive 7-17 record.

"They've got a taste for winning," Model coach Ellie Turner said. "Now, they really want to win."

Now, the challenge is to keep building.

The Lady Patriots graduated many of the players which were among their statistical leaders, but have a record 29 players on their roster heading into the program's fourth season.

"We lost six seniors, but you can't tell our the numbers," Turner said. "There's a lot of interest. It's exciting."

Model returns just one senior and the team's line-up will certainly look much different.

"We have new setters, new hitters. We have a different libero," Turner said. "Everyone is learning to play multiple positions. It's a young team, which makes me more excited, not just for this season, but in the years to come."

Daniella Ottwell joined the team last season and got some varsity experience (11 games) at libero. The senior is set to step into a bigger role at that position this season.

"She was new to the sport. She's one of those who decided it might be fun to come and play," Turner said of Ottwell.

Juniors Grace Yates (middle), Violet Fox (middle), Rebecca Smith (right side hitter) and Alana Newbill (libero) are back for the Lady Patriots.

Three freshmen will likely be in the starting line-up as well — Piper Moore (outside hitter), Lindy Hudson (setter) and Emma Little (middle).

"Emma has played club and she's pretty much played all year. She's been waiting for this," Turner said. "And Lindy has the hands for setter and that's where she wanted to play."

Junior Zoe Mollette is injured and will not play, but is hoping to return to the court next season.

With so many new players in new roles, the Lady Patriots are still finding their identity, while having fun and setting bigger goals.

"They are coming together. They are enjoying playing together, working together and enjoying success as a team," Turner said.