The race for the 8th District volleyball championship was essentially a one-team show last season. The University Heights Academy Lady Blazers were the best team in the district, and in the 2nd Region, from wire to wire. UHA did not even lose a set in district play, and only one set to an opponent from the 2nd Region.
However, graduation hit the Lady Blazers hard, opening the door wide for a very interesting 2024 volleyball season. Christian County looks to be ready to make big strides and figures to be the district favorite coming into the season. Heritage Christian Academy looks to be a team that could make a charge toward the top of the district. Hopkinsville looks to take some steps forward after beginning the rebuild process last season. And, the Fort Campbell Lady Falcons begin the Ashley Galvez era and play their way into a regional tournament berth.
University Heights Academy –
To say graduation hit the defending 8th District and 2nd Region champions hard would be a vast understatement. The Lady Blazers lost 9 players from last season’s championship roster to graduation. Then freshman Chayse Gilliland moved to Bowling Green taking her talents to the Lady Purples’ program. Senior Olivia Oakley suffered a knee injury after the 2023 season and has just recently been cleared to return to active duty. So, this year’s UHA team will look nothing like the team that reached the state tournament.
Olivia Oakley was third on the team in kills with 200 last season and was second on the team with 63 service aces. Opponents will obviously know where she is on the court at all times this season.
An obvious challenge for the Lady Blazers will be dealing with a lack of experience. Outside of Oakley, none of the players on this year’s roster saw any varsity action last season. Coach Faye Hendricks points to Oakley as the player who will provide leadership both as a role model and captain. As for the younger players, she will be looking for to step up early, Hendricks says 8th grade setter Gretchen Durham and sophom*ore libero Katherine Wood will both will be on the court full-time with Oakley. Otherwise, a number of young, talented players will be subbing in and out of the front or back row as needed.
Look for the Lady Blazers to develop over the course of the season, but there may be some bumps in the road as the season gets started.
Christian County –
The Lady Colonels had the second most wins in the 2nd Region last season and were the 8th District runner-up. Coach Samantha Self’s squad returns enough to be labeled the district favorite as the season gets ready to get up and rolling.
Christian County graduated four players from last season’s roster with the biggest losses coming in the form of Camryn Armstrong and Rylee Owens. Armstrong was second on the squad in kills, while Owens was the leader on the floor for the team and finished the year with 401 digs and 86 assists. Christian County also lost Anaysia Bagwell, who has decided to spend the fall focusing on getting ready for the 2024-2025 high school basketball season.
Leading the way for the returners is high-flying attacker Skylar Kirby. Kirby finished the 2023 season with 263 kills and that number should climb this season. She was also second on the team in aces with 77.
Ashlea Russell and Peyton Owens combined for more than 570 assists and more than 300 digs last season and should be key players this season, as should be Shiloh Baker.
Coach Self says that while she does have some important returning pieces to the puzzle, experience is still going to be an issue early in the season, as she has five players that are new to varsity volleyball. She notes that she does not expect that issue to linger long into the new season.
Self says her girls have had a big off-season on the court and in the weight room, coming back with more power and better skill than where they ended last season. Self adds that they have a lot of versatility amongst their athletes and that she has several she can throw in just about any position, and they would find a way to get the job done.
In addition to the returning veterans, Coach Self points to sophom*ore Carly Armstrong who will be playing outside hitter opposite Skylar as a player to keep your eye on. Maeby Irving and ZaKiyah Hairston will be taking reps as defensive specialists, and Abby Gibbs and Adreyona Smith will be taking reps hitting right side.
Heritage Christian Academy –
The team many expect to battle it out with Christian County for district supremacy is Heritage Christian Academy. The Lady Warriors had their struggles at times last season following some noteworthy graduation losses in 2022, but 2024 looks to be a year where the Lady Warriors will be no fun for any team to have to face on the other side of the net.
A big part of the optimism for HCA is the return of Mya Goodwin. After taking last season away from the program, Goodwin is back and will be among the top players not only in the 8th District but also in the 2nd Region. Two seasons ago, Goodwin was second on the team in kills and assists and led the team in service aces. Goodwin is one of the high-flyers that makes opponents cringe when they see her elevating at the net.
Katie Cansler led the Lady Warriors in kills and service aces during the 2023 season and figures to be a formidable 1-2 combination with Mya Goodwin at the net this season for Heritage Christian Academy. Coach Grace Waldron says both Cansler and Goodwin will play a big role in working together to lead our team. We also have a lot of leadership qualities that shine throughout all our players.
Hadlee Hayes, as an 8th grader, was second on the team in kills and assists and led the team in digs. Look for her to become an even bigger presence on the court for the Lady Warriors in 2024.
As for some new faces to watch out for, Waldron points to Grace Conley at middle blocker/hitter, and a couple of girls that were varsity last year but have specialized their role in defense and will be seeing more court time this year. Those two being Harley Sparks and Taylor Barbee.
Hopkinsville –
The Hopkinsville Lady Tigers find themselves in a bit of a reloading situation. The Lady Tigers lost six of their top ten players from a team that won seven matches last season. Hopkinsville lost its leaders in terms of kills, assists, digs, and service aces, so the Lady Tigers will be looking for some of their younger talent to step up across the board.
Senior Da’Najah Wheeler will be counted on in terms of both play and leadership on the court. Wheeler appeared in 23 matches last season, finishing with 26 digs.
Junior Mariana Vieyra should see her role grow significantly this season. She finished 2023 with 31 kills and 12 digs. Also, look for junior Brooke Stewart to have the chance to step up this year. Stewart was second on the team in assists last season with 44.
Sophom*ore Kyleigh Weber appeared in 23 matches for Hopkinsville in 2023. She finished the season with 65 digs.
For the Lady Tigers there is some young talent coming along and it will need to come along fairly quickly in a district featuring Christian County, Heritage Christian, and University Heights.
Fort Campbell –
A coaching change highlights the news for the Lady Falcons as the 2024 season gets underway. Ashley Galvez comes and takes over a Fort Campbell program that won just three times last season. However, one of those wins came in the 8th District tournament when the Lady Falcons ended the season for the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers.
One big loss the Lady Falcons will have to replace is that of Elinor Arnold, who graduated in May. Arnold led the team in kills in 2023 with 101. She also had 75 blocks and 42 service aces.
While the loss of Arnold will be tough to overcome, the Lady Falcons do return several players who saw action last season.
Sophom*ore Amanda Kalili-Liusa led Fort Campbell in assists and service aces last season and should see her role and her numbers increase in 2024.
De’Lyla Melton, Olivia Voelkel, Emily Ramsey, Emma Hayne, and Emma Kolmerton, all saw action in at least 20 matches last season for the Lady Falcons. So, while they did not see many wins last season, several Fort Campbell players saw varsity action in 2023 and if they can build on that experience on the court, the Lady Falcons have a chance to take some big strides in 2024.
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