The 2023 Christian County High School volleyball team went further than any Lady Colonel team has been since 2015 when it won the Region 2 championship.
In 2024, second-year coach Sam Self has a solid nucleus from that squad and the team has eyes on improving on last year’s finish.
“What I really like about this team, and we proved this at Bluegrass (State) Games, is that we are very much a unit,” Self said. “Bluegrass was a good experience for us, but there were certainly times when it was like, ‘dang it we should be winning some of these sets that we’re not quite getting there’ but that’s what the weekend is for experimenting and getting some team chemistry built and that sort of thing.”
The Lady Colonels went 4-4 at the Bluegrass State Games and won their bracket, claiming their final three matches. Self said the team grew and gained confidence during the weekend.
“What I really was proud of was that it never felt like there was any kind of negativity amongst the team, it was just frustration and wanting to move on to the next ball for themselves and wanting to pick each other up,” Self said. “They’re making my job easier because they’re coaching themselves up really well. Sometimes, I’ll go to say something, and one of their teammates already has it for me.”
Two seniors will lead Christian County this season. Emma Webster and Skylar Kirby will be counted on heavily for leadership.
“Skylar led our teams in kills last year and she’s projected to do the same this year,” Self said. “Emma is moving from hitting right side to hitting middle. She just worked her tail off in the offseason in the weight room. She actually now holds three state records for powerlifting and she’s jumping out of the gym a little bit. We moved her over to the middle and she’s going to be much more of an asset inside in terms of blocking.”
The junior class is the Lady Colonels’ biggest group, led by Shiloh Baker, Kaidence Atwell, Ashlea Russell, ZaKiyah Hairston, Abby Gibbs, Maeby Irving, and Adreyona Smith.
“We’ve had a few (juniors) that have stepped up in the offseason and we have a few juniors that are just now seeing the varsity floor,” Self said. “They’ve really stepped up to that and I’m excited to see how that goes.”
Sophomore Peyton Owens, who has been playing varsity since the seventh grade, is moving to more of a defensive role after serving as a setter last year.
“Peyton is really coming into her own and taking control of that back row,” Self said. “She’s really been hitting a lot of middle back and doing a great job of directing. I’m excited to see her in a different role.”
Self said the district should be competitive again this year with Heritage Christian Academy providing a good challenge.
“I feel pretty solid about it, but you can’t take anything for granted, take it one match at a time, and just keep pushing through,” Self said.
Christian County opens the season Aug. 19 against HendersonCounty.
