Paul Laurence Dunbar enters volleyball postseason as top Dogs, ‘but you never know’

Paul Laurence Dunbar enters high school volleyball’s postseason as the No. 3 team in the state, according to the latest coaches’ poll, which also makes it the top-rated team among public schools.

But Dunbar coach Jenni Morgan knows her team must first navigate its 43rd District and 11th Region tournaments over the next two weeks to begin proving the Bulldogs are more than just a lofty ranking on a website. District tournament play begins Monday.

“We just hope they’re prepared,” said Morgan, who led Dunbar (26-7) to the district and region titles last year on the way to the program’s first state runner-up finish. “I think they are where they need to be. I think if we can continue to stay focused then, hopefully, things will work out for us. But you never know.”

The 43rd District also features a host of traditionally tough rivals, including No. 19 Lexington Catholic. Beyond that the Bulldogs could meet No. 5 Great Crossing or No. 16 Frederick Douglass or both in the region tournament if all advance.

Last week, Morgan was recognized as Kentucky high school volleyball’s coach of the year by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). She didn’t get that honor by taking anything for granted against any opponent, ranked or not.

“I think the 11th Region is just as strong as it always is,” Morgan said. “There’s a lot of teams with very athletic players that have been playing volleyball forever. There’s never an easy out, not in the 11th Region. I think it’s one of the hardest region’s ever.”

Douglass rights the ship

Frederick Douglass (20-11) seems to have overcome the midseason turmoil that led to the hiring of former Georgetown College coach Nick Griffin to take over the program on an interim basis.

The Broncos have won nine games in a row and went unbeaten in 42nd District play, including a sweep over Sayre on Wednesday to secure the district tournament’s No. 1 seed.

“We’ve got a really good team here,” Griffin said Wednesday after the win over Sayre. “It had been 20 years since I coached high school last, so I had to get caught up pretty quick on some of the rules and everything else, but it’s been great. I’ve enjoyed it.”

Junior Addison Jarvis leads the team in kills and senior Torii Starks tops the charts in blocks even though she’s missed a few games to rest a sore shoulder.

“We’ve worked really hard in practice and we’re getting our rotations together,” said Starks, a 6-2 senior middle blocker committed to Butler. “We’ve come together as a team and got everything down. … I’m proud of us.”

The Broncos continued to win without Starks for a short time. She played Wednesday and said she’s good to go for the postseason.

“We’ve got some senior leadership and some upperclassmen who are geared up and ready,” Griffin said. “They’ve really started to come together and believe in the coaches and each other.”

Sayre’s best season ever

Despite Wednesday’s loss to Douglass, Sayre (27-6) has put together the best season in the program’s 11-year history.

The Spartans topped both Henry Clay and Scott County to go 2-2 in district play and earn their first top-three seed in the district tournament.

“It’s been a fun year,” said Sayre coach Leigh Nahra, who in her sixth season with the Spartans led them to an All “A” Classic region title and the quarterfinals of the small-school showcase’s statewide tournament.

Nahra credited the senior leadership of her 6-5 outside hitter Reese Collins for the Spartans’ consistency. Collins is committed to continue her playing career at Buffalo.

“I’m a little sad that it’s all coming to an end, but overall, I’m really excited,” Collins said of her last run in a Spartans uniform.

Sayre played its way into the district semis each of the last two years. This year, they get to start in the semifinals round, putting them one win away from a first district finals and region tourney appearance. Sayre will face Bryan Station on Wednesday at Frederick Douglass High School. It lost to the Defenders in five sets on Sept. 14.

“Hopefully, we can pull it out,” Collins said. “That would be amazing.”

42nd District Tournament

At Frederick Douglass. All records are through Friday’s games.

Tuesday’s game

7 p.m: Henry Clay (10-25) vs. Scott County (13-9)

Wednesday’s semifinals

6 p.m.: Henry Clay-Scott County winner vs. Frederick Douglass (20-11)

8 p.m.: Bryan Station (19-15) vs. Sayre (27-6)

Thursday’s finals

7 p.m.: Championship game

43rd District Tournament

At Lexington Catholic. All records are through Friday’s games.

Monday’s game

6:30 p.m.: Lexington Christian (12-14) vs. Tates Creek (15-14)

Tuesday’s semifinals

6 p.m.: Lexington Catholic (24-9) vs. Lafayette (20-14)

8 p.m.: Lexington Christian-Tates Creek winner vs. Paul Laurence Dunbar (26-7)

Thursday’s finals

6:30 p.m. Championship game

KVCA Coaches Poll

The Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association released the latest top 25 poll on Oct. 10, It is conducted and distributed by the KVCA. First place votes in parentheses; 11th Region teams in bold.

1. Notre Dame (9)

2. Assumption (8)

3. Paul Laurence Dunbar

4. Sacred Heart (1)

5. Great Crossing (2)

6. St. Henry District

7. Central Hardin

8. North Oldham

9. Ryle

10. DuPont Manual

11. Elizabethtown

12. Bowling Green

13. West Jessamine

14. Greenwood (1)

15. McCracken County

16. Frederick Douglass

17. Simon Kenton

18. Conner

19. Lexington Catholic

20. Mercy

21. Taylor County

22. Christian Academy-Louisville

23. Boyd County

24. South Oldham

25. Bardstown