Sandman32

You are correct. Sorry. So 3 Kenton Co public schools... each in a different Region and less than 10 miles away from each other.... wonder why? and I still stand behind my statement about zero expectations at SK this year...

Good points, but I still don't believe NDA's team the next few years will be anywhere near what they have this season. St. Henry will take their turn at holding the Regional reigns next year IMO and we will see how long that lasts. NDA doesn't have another Morgan Hentz in waiting. Again, its just my opinion. I still believe they will be good enough to pummel many of the teams around here.

I think Scott's probably favored to win the Region 10, and rightfully so, so I don't see SK's expectations that high. I also don't think there is much pressure placed on any of the public schools in Kenton County concerning girls athletics.

Volleyball is a TEAM sport, so unless she brought some other players with her, I don't see anything changing in Region 9. NDA wins it. As far as St. Henry vs Ryle, I think that will be the same too; an up in the air decision that will be determined by how well the underclassman adjust to their new starting roles. I'd give Ryle the edge right now, but St. Henry has several Freshman who may make an impact by the end of the year, it just depends on how they adjust to the HS game, and how well the upperclassman in front of them perform. Either way, going forward next year I see St. Henry taking over the #1 Role in the region. In my opinion NDA's reign will end after this season. The well is starting to run dry on the hill, but never fear, they will be back in a few years.

What an amazing accomplishment! Congratulations Morgan, go have a great time representing your country knowing we in NKY are very proud of you.

Congrats Madison! another very deserving kid, Good Luck!

Congrats Morgan! Well deserved and good luck!

Just for the record, Leah started club in 3rd grade, but other than that your description of them is correct. Those two are good examples of what type of talent may lay hidden out there that is currently not being cultivated and encouraged to participate in volleyball. I know both of these girls parents and neither had a volleyball background. Yes, both families are very sports oriented, and therefore had taken it upon themselves to get there kids into sports at a very early age, but Perrin was headed to be a swimmer and Leah a soccer player when they both stumbled onto the world of club volleyball quite by accident. As far as Highlands dominating St. Henry in basketball, I concede, for whatever reason they don't put an emphasis on Girls BBall there.

At which school?

At a certain point after a kid has been indoctrinated into the basics of the sport I agree whole heartedly that the onus is on the kids to achieve greatness, but you're ignoring the facts. Seeing how you have held the Ft. Thomas area up as a model for us all to follow when is the last time their volleyball team won state? the Region? or the district? How many times have they defeated, NDA or St. Henry? Now, tell me why...

Seeing how volleyball is played on a court.. not a field... you must be talking about football or soccer. I am specifically speaking about volleyball. I have been specifically speaking about volleyball. I have also been pointing to programs such as the FTJFL as a "success" in getting kids playing sports at the early ages, and how that leads to HHS football state championships. You've proven my point twice in one post.

Actually to clarify, I'm not against para professionals being involved in sports, I'm against giving it to the teacher of said school over the most qualified just because they are a teacher of said school, and the private verse public sports program thing is just a further illustration of what I identified as the root cause of it all, That The Public School System In NKY Does Not Put Enough Emphasis On Sports At the Early Ages. Yes, a few select times individual schools have gone against the policy and hired the best candidate, such as hiring Matt Long at Dixie, but that is not the norm. Girls are not boys... I have raised three boys and two girls. Boys do pickup games in the park, girls, not so much. You're description of calling and texting friends doesn't really work with girls. I don't know why, but it doesn't. Guys, yes, absolutely. Girls are much more likely to grab a ball and play by themselves. But my point is that girls are not being encouraged to do so early enough. Early involvement in sports, and more specifically volleyball, is why Louisville kicks every other part of the states but in that sport. If our kids ever want to compete, or dare I say, Beat them, we need to change the way our culture in NKY looks at sports.

So basically what your saying is that Louisville's catholic schools have created a "cultural" change in the way their area approaches sports, and in this case volleyball in particular, which leads to them to being more successful. hmmm :jump:

You mention that her predecessor did not bring her back... The previous head coach (Andrea Atwood) was there for several years, so if she didn't bring her back at her choice then that would definitely be a concern.

I was willing to sit back and listen to the rest of you, as many have posted very good views, but after sitting on this a while I felt I had to respond. I have no idea where you grew up, but I have been a lifelong NKY resident and have never witnessed a place where pickup 2 on 2 or any other combination happens on a regular basis. Volleyball players aren't like basketball players. They don't just show up at a park and play with strangers. Please enlighten me as to where you are speaking of?

That's kinda harsh. I think you could have worded that a little differently. Obviously with Lexington United fielding so many teams there has to be a few good players down there. Club team success is not an indicator of individual quality.

I guess the answer is no. lol

I almost forgot we were in a SK thread.

Wow, I've agreed with the last three posts. Amazing. lol

While I don't doubt that there is some validity to what you say, not all public school parents are financially unable to pay. Quite a few fork out money for Elite/Select/Club Baseball, Basketball, and Soccer programs, and even Volleyball too. Parents seem to find a way to get the money when it comes to their kids, and their are fundraising opportunities at each club to help lessen the cost. My point is that public schools start their focus on athletic excellence too late. I don't disagree with DallasLaredo that it comes back to the parents, but come on, we're all mushrooms, and if no one ever shines a light how would you know how important it is to get your kid into club sports before middle school? It's fairly obvious that parochial schools have figured out that early involvement in sports translates into athletic excellence. No, the private schools don't have organized rec volleyball teams prior to 3rd grade, (they do have K-2 offerings in other sports), but they do have flyers and people from NKYVC coming to their schools starting with kindergarten kids to pump their programs. And if your school has athletic offerings and focus's on athletic and academic excellence, what do you thing those K-2nd grade kids parents do? They enroll them into Sprinkles to try and get them a leg up for when their 3rd graders, because they want their kids to succeed in the class room and on the court. It's a cultural thing. Public school parents don't have that... at least not anywhere around where I'm from.

It is a nice example, but doesn't fully translate to the way club volleyball works. In elementary school football, playing for the FTJFL is the pathway to playing for Highlands High school. It is centric to the school district and supported by the school system. It is the unofficial, official, team of the school district. You play all your games on HHS home field. There is no better or alternative brand of football than what is played by HS on Friday nights. In volleyball at the public school level, there is no one Club Volleyball Team that is unofficially or officially affiliated with any one school. They also almost never play or practice at a kids elementary, middle, or high school. Nearly every club tournament that volleyball girls compete in is out of town, with the GJNC being in either Orlando, or wherever USAV is hosting theirs at in a given year. (This year it was in New Orleans). Club Volleyball is where you obtain your scholarships and perfect your sport. It is where the highest level of competition is played, not at your high school. By waiting till 6th grade to start for most public school kids you are placing those kids at a severe disadvantage that most will never conquer.

Exactly, if anything academic excellence is reinforced through sports.

I would never chastise, belittle or seek to change the advantages that private schools provide for their children. I think public schools need to step up their end of this scenario. It's obvious that some places in the state get it, ie Louisville, but NKY as a whole do not.

You are assuming that private school and public school kids know all the same information. They don't. and just how do kids develop an interest in a game like volleyball at the 1st 2nd or 3rd grade level? They play in school. or at least they do in private school. You are correct in saying that kids learn volleyball at the club level, but if public school kids start playing in the 6th grade how on gods green earth are they going to learn enough in 3 short months to beat out a kid at tryouts who's been playing 3 years longer minimum. Not to mention that that kids has probably also played club for 2 years as well.

And as a public school parent, I disagree. The administration at these schools don't want a booster organization and athletics run like a private school. They don't care. they care about academics.