Region’s Best descend upon Barren County this week
By Perry Swack
The 4th Region’s top volleyball players will take to the hardwood this week at Barren County High School with one goal in mind: a region championship. The sport of volleyball requires seamless cooperation between the six players on the court. If any one player is out of position, the odds at scoring a point drop significantly. Within those six positions are unique places on the court. The 4th Region features some of the best volleyball players in the state. In this article, we highlight two players from each of the remaining eight programs vying for a championship.
Aubrey Sears & Kambell Porter, Logan County
The long-time 13th District champions etched another title in their belt behind its talented duo of Aubrey Sears and Kambell Porter. The junior Sears notched nearly 450 kills in the regular season to go along with 30 total blocks and 65 service aces. The setter Porter tallied 511 assists, 104 digs, and 35 aces for the Lady Cougars Logan County begins its 4th Region Tournament against Clinton County on Monday at 5:30pm.
Landree Moons & Jonna Upchurch, Clinton County
Landree Moons is averaging nearly five kills per game with 390 in the regular season. The senior has also recorded 109 solo blocks, 218 digs, and 41 service aces. Senior setter Jonna Upchurch has tallied a whopping 508 assists which is nearly 85% of her team’s total assists on the season. Upchurch also has 242 digs to her name as the Lady Bulldogs qualified for an eighth-straight region tournament.
Georgie Tabor & Ava Kinslow, Allen County-Scottsville
The Lady Patriots return to the region tournament behind the strong efforts of their sophomore setter and senior libero. The sophomore Tabor has assisted on 529 points, while recording 273 digs. The senior Kinslow has tallied a team-leading 427 digs and assisting on 81 points and 34 service aces. In the 15th District semifinals, Tabor assisted on 35 points while Kinslow recorded 34 digs to help ACS qualify for another 4th Region Tournament. The Lady Patriots take on Bowling Green on Monday at 7:30pm.
Amirra Bailey & Makenna Kerrick, Bowling Green
The 14th District champions will be looking for a third-straight region title at Barren County next week. Sophomore Amirra Bailey has been a key contributor for the Lady Purples on each of their region-title winning teams. The middle blocker leads the team with 358 kills, 85 total blocks, and 57 service aces. Senior setter Makenna Kerrick recorded 430 assists in the regular season to go along with 113 digs and 44 service aces for the Lady Purples.
Jada Knight & Makenna Rine, Warren East
From 2004 to 2021, only four schools reached the 4th Region championship game in volleyball. In 2022, Warren East made it five. Two players that played a major role on that run were Jada Knight and Makenna Rine. Back for a farewell run as seniors, Knight and Rine have excelled on the hardwood in ‘23, leading the Lady Raiders to consecutive 15th District championships. In the district title match, Knight doled out 40 assists and 14 digs, while Rine led the way with 19 digs.
Julia Warren & Caydence Johnson, Franklin-Simpson
Franklin-Simpson returns to the 4th Region Tournament for the first time since 2018 after finishing runner-up in the 13th District. Sophomore libero Julia Warren leads the 4th Region in digs with 502. Fellow sophomore Caydence Johnson leads the region in service aces with 116 on the season. The Lady Wildcats will look to continue their run as they open up 4th Region play with Warren East at 5:30 PM on Tuesday.
Aubrey Packer & the Whittinghill Sisters, Greenwood
It might not be a true duo with three players included, but it’s hard not to recognize this trio of Lady Gators in 2023. Senior Aubrey Packer leads the way with 413 kills in the regular season alone, while the setting duo of Lila and Samantha Whittinghill have combined for over 900 assists, each with more than 450 on the season. The freshman Lila also leads the team with nearly 100 service aces.
Ella Pierce & Briley Murray, Russell County
The 16th District champions will face off against Greenwood on Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM in the region tournament’s opening round. Two Lady Laker players were named to both the All-District Team for the regular season and the tournament: sophomore Ella Pierce and senior Briley Murray. Pierce spends her time as the team’s defensive specialist, or libero, while Murray operates on the opposite side as the right-side hitter.
