dallaslaredo

In the bottom half I say Tate's Creek or Henry Clay. In the top Ryle. Ryle wins it all.

The letter said voting across the 3 classes was inconsistent by coaches - I don't know if I would take that to mean they weren't taking it seriously. Yes, classes would help the smaller schools - and the same can be said for every other sport. But honestly, 3 private schools in Louisville having a monopoly on the State Championship for the last 20 seasons isn't so much about size, as it is about the public vs private debate and the ability of private schools to attract student-athletes. I think size is a secondary factor. I will say I can't think of another sport where the combination of size and private schools is so dominating. If you don't have 600 females or roughly the equivalent of 1200 co-ed, you don't have a shot. And you better be private too.

Here's the full letter posted on the KVCA (Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association) website. The KHSAA uses the KVCA selections for All-State: http://affiliates.avca.org/Portals/3/2015%20KVCA%20Membership%20Letter.pdf The Summary: Even though VB does not have classes in the eyes of the KHSAA, the KVCA divides the schools by size - AAA, AA, A. In the past, 1st , 2nd, and HM teams were selected for all 3 classes - so that was 9 All-State teams. Now, there will only be 3 teams - 1st, 2nd, and HM for the whole state, but each team will be required to have a minimum of two(2) AA and A players. The other interesting change is no more ties for Region COTY or POTY. Regions will have to vote again until they get a winner. There will still be a statewide COTY and a POTY in AAA, AA, and A. And one(1) Miss Volleyball for the State My thoughts... I don't like the requirement that you *must* have a minimum of two(2) AA and A players on your ballot for each of the 3 teams, mostly because I'm against requirements of any kind on votes like this. You either earn it or you don't. Why the built-in spots for AA and A players? Why not also require a minimum of two(2) AAA players? Doesn't seem like a fair way of setting up the ballot. But I do like it going from 9 teams, which was way too many, down to 3 teams. Do I think this favors the large volleyball powerhouses? Yes. And why not. Let's be honest, IMHO that's where the best volleyball is being played, so that's who should be on an All-State team. I'm not part of the everyone gets a ribbon movement.

I notice a lot of DS's on that roster. But still, with a big middle coming in, 6 seniors, and an standout player in Bush, no reason why Ryle can't win the 9th. Ryle should certainly clean-up at the Bluegrass Games. Last year was a fluke. They should win it going away this year.

Enough talk.... the schedule is out for the first matches of the season at the BGSG http://bgsg.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2015-BGSG-Volleyball-Schedule-Day-1.pdf Who's the favorite? My prediction that Ryle would run away with it last year fell flat on it's face, and many teams made surprise runs. First look at a lot of teams with a lot of question marks... Ryle - first look at 6'2" transfer Boone County - can they build on last year? Campbell County - back row? Cooper - who's setting? Bishop Brossart - Newport Central - who's hitting? Simon Kenton - new coach Tates Creek - Regional runner-up Henry Clay - Lex Cath - Scott - 10th favorite I still say Ryle is the class of this field. I also wonder why Highlands isn't in this tournament.

In the last 14 seasons, ND has 10 Region titles, and St. Henry has 4 (all other teams combined have 0) I don't know if ND's reign ever ends. It may take a year off. They are 7-1 the last 8 seasons, so maybe they are due. But then again, I believe 2 years ago ND graduated like 6 or 7 seniors, with the majority of them playing in college, and everyone said ND was done. And they finished 2nd in State the year after those losses. So you take the field, and I'll take ND next year. And if I'm Newport Central, I'm begging to go back to the 10th region.

I believe lack of respect for SK is due to it's proximity to Highlands. Whether you think it's deserved or not, Highlands overshadows all others in NKY and will continue to garner the majority of respect until proven otherwise.

Regardless of coach, is there that much pressure to win in volleyball at SK? What's the "bar" set at? I previously posted that I thought SK was set up 2 years ago to make a nice run and that didn't happen. What are the expectations this year?

let's talk about the transfer - reports are Ryle getting a 6'2" class of 2018 middle moving here from Texas. Plays on a high end club team. With Ryle graduating both of their middles, she will presumably walk right into a starting Varsity role. With the biggest player in the 9th region now at Ryle filling a need they had, are the Raiders now the team to beat in the 9th?

Oh...I don't know.. I guess look around the Lexington area next. Dunbar, Henry Clay, and Tates Creek can usually field respectable teams. There are numerous Regions that are barren wastelands of volleyball interest. Wish more teams from the hotbed Regions could go to State instead of sending 1 from each Region. Sucks knowing the 6th or 7th best team in Louisville/NKY would win any other Region in the State.

to try to get back on point.... universal law #1 in sports is if you aren't training and playing at the same level as your competition, you will be left behind in the dust. Since private schools and public schools in KY play for the same KHSAA title, and the KHSAA does not have classes for volleyball, then SK or any other public school that wants to compete with private schools in volleyball must be at their level. That means starting teams in 3rd grade at SK feeder schools and/or playing club is a must for SK to compete down the road. It's pretty clear to see why no public school has ever won the KHSAA State Volleyball Championship - a streak that stands at 35 years and counting which is pretty freakin amazing considering private schools make up what - 5%, maybe 10% of the entire KHSAA. This isn't about what the private schools are doing, it's about what public schools and parents aren't doing.

Since when? HHS GBB seniors started playing for Moyer in 3rd grade.

So no one, boys or girls, plays basketball in Ft. Thomas until 6th grade? Right.

When you don't have one and it will pay dividends down the road.

I think it still goes back to parents and here's why.... my own personal observation/opinion (yours may differ) private schools rely/expect on parent involvement and volunteerism from day 1, and those same parents expect to be asked to serve in countless thankless ways. Conversely - let's face it - there are many public school parents who drop their kids off at school, pick them up, and expect the school to handle the rest. That's why they send them to public school...so they don't have to volunteer, be involved, or get nickel and dimed to death with donations. The "I have my job and you have yours, and that's what I pay taxes for" mentality. And yes, we can all name the public schools that have overcome this to build success both on and off the field/court/gym. But I bet it didn't happen without deep parent involvement. So when you approach public school xxx as concerned parents and ask to start a 3rd grade volleyball team, the first thing the school will do is look back and ask how you will be willing to help. Or maybe the school says there's no way and the parents have to push together as a group for change. Either way, to me, this is at the feet of the parents.

Again, I think this all points back at the parents. They're either not involved at their public school to get the girls playing earlier in school like their private counterparts, or they're not looking at playing club ball early enough. And to be accurate, there's been a lot of grades thrown about in this discussion..the earliest I've seen any school team is 3rd grade - not aware of any schools with K, 1st, or 2nd grade teams.

many of you may find this handy http://khsaa.org/calendar/1516refcalendar.pdf

ANYONE can join sprinkles. It's not a private school thing. It's a club who accepts anyone. I think where you and I differ is you believe public schools aren't doing enough. I believe the path to success is more club ball. I say that's on public school parents, not the schools. I don't expect a school, ANY school, to talk about or encourage club volleyball...Why would they? That's not why they are there. To me, getting a head start in club ball is on the parents.

per KHSAA - 1st volleyball practice allowed - July 15th.

huh what? Nothing stopping public school kids from playing high end club volleyball. It's happening in the rest of both KY and Ohio. The clubs don't care what school they are from. So yes, looks like coincidence. You are saying in NKY, the club volleyball players choose to attend private schools. Or they all come from private schools. I say, in NKY, there are not enough public school players choosing to play high end club volleyball. Because when you look at the all-state teams for KY and Ohio, the majority are public school players...... 2014 KVCA KY FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE (12 PLAYERS) AAA - 66% private AA - 16% private A - 16% private 2014 OHSVCA ALL-OHIO FIRST TEAM (8 PLAYERS) DIV 1 - 50% private DIV 2 - 50% private DIV 3 - 25% private DIV 4 - 25% private huh.

First, what does CCH stand for? Does Cov Cath know High School is 2 words? Shouldn't it be CCHS? Like HHS? Or is that too close to Campbell County? I can see the Colonels nickname going into the PC dumpster soon - and I guess "Confederates" isn't an option - since HHS is the Bluebirds, how about the Crows? or keep it religious alliteration - Canon? Cardinal? Chiliasm? Congregation?

"Crows"

I think you both are missing the point. Success in HS volleyball isn't about public vs private, big vs small, or what feeder schools do. It's about club volleyball. Not low end local club volleyball like Bluegrass Select or Midwest Extreme, big high end elite club volleyball playing on an national open level like NKYVC or Elevation. Show me the high school teams those players are on, and I will show you who is going to have a successful season year in and year out. High end club starts at 9 years old. Follow where those girls go to High School. That's where the success will be. You can start all the elementary and middle school programs you want and it won't compare to the training and skill you get at a high end club. There's no substitute for playing year 'round against the best players in the country. People may not like it but that's the state of HS Volleyball right now. Especially in Louisville and NKY. No KHSAA classes means you have to beat Assumption, Mercy, and Sacred Heart where every single player is a high end club volleyball player. If your team isn't at that level, good luck. On a side note, SK had their shot at State in 2013...a good to great team, hosting the 8th Region, and then lost the 1st set of the 8th Region semi-final 30-28 and never recovered. A very disappointing finish for a team that had higher hopes.

Sure. I would say up until tryouts. and maybe after that. If a stud player transfers into the school the day before school starts, is the volleyball team going to turn that down?

It takes a lot more than 1 player to win the Region, especially the 9th. But even with Villari, who liked Cooper's chances to win the 9th?