After some big graduation losses in 2022, the Todd County Central Lady Rebels saw their share of bumps on the volleyball court last season. Still, with a young squad, the Lady Rebels fought their way to 15 wins and missed by a whisker of returning to the 4th Region volleyball tournament.
This season, there are a couple of important slots to fill, but a young team last year is now a good bit more experienced as the 2024 volleyball season gets underway.
The Lady Rebels lost Lynnlee Jones and Chloe Willis to graduation in the spring. Jones was second on the team in kills and service aces last season and led the team in blocks. Willis played in every match for Todd County Central and ended up being the team leader in assists. So, Coach Steve Lyne does have a couple of important slots to fill.
But the cupboard is far from bare in Elkton this season. Seniors Emily Thomas, Callista Chapman, and Josie Williams all saw action in at least 30 matches last season for the Lady Rebels. Chapman had big moments at the net, finishing with 118 kills. Thomas was quite adept at getting plays started for the Lady Rebels with 198 digs. Josie Williams finished with 111 digs and led the team in service aces.
Juniors Allyssa Wofford and Shelby Holderman had big 2023 seasons and there is no reason to suspect that their numbers will not climb in 2024. Wofford was tops on the team in kills last season with 220 and is a high-flyer that can come at the net from any direction. Holderman will again be ‘setting the table’ for her team after a stellar sophomore season. In 2023, she finished second on the team in assists with 283, just four behind team leader Chloe Willis.
Aubri Penick saw action in every match for the Lady Rebels as a freshman and should see an even larger role this season for Todd County Central. Sophomores Chloe Collins
and Ariana Hudson also gained some valuable experience for the Lady Rebels in 2023.
As for the 13th District, Logan County will once again be the team that the others are chasing. The Lady Cougars have one of the best players in the 4th Region and in the state in Aubrey Sears. Logan won 25 matches last season and reached the state tournament quarterfinals before falling to West Jessamine.
The Lady Cougars bring back a large senior class led by Sears, who ended the year with 595 kills, 47 blocks, 218 digs, and 77 service aces. Lydia Owens is one of the best servers anywhere around, ending last year with 107 aces. And, by the way, senior Kambell Porter had 600 assists. Declawing these cats will be a big challenge for any 4th Region team.
Franklin-Simpson won 20 matches last season and reached the 4th Region tournament. The Lady Wildcats. Juniors Aubrey Sams, Annsleigh Bonner, and Caydence Johnson are the core of an up-and-coming squad. Add in senior Mackenzie Phelps, who had more than 100 kills and digs, and the Lady Wildcats have the opportunity to take additional steps up the ladder in 2024.
The Russellville Lady Panthers are simply looking to make some positive progress in 2024. The Lady Panthers finished 2023 at 0-21 and won just two sets through the season. Over the past 3 seasons, Russellville is 3-65. Junior Mya Rangel is back for the Lady Panthers. She finished second on the team in service aces last season.
