By: Don Meador
Plans are underway to field the first Patriot volleyball team this spring at Allen County-Scottsville High School. The creation of a boys volleyball team has received approval from the Allen County Board of Education and applications are being accepted for a head coach and an assistant.
Growing interest in men’s volleyball at the collegiate level across the Commonwealth led to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) approving boys volleyball as a sanctioned sport last fall.
“Boys volleyball is gaining in popularity within our state,” explained AC-S athletic director Brad Hood. “When you look around you see all of the small colleges in Kentucky are now offering men's volleyball and offering scholarships. With the interest in volleyball around here, it's a no-brainer.”
After the KHSAA approved the sport, male students at AC-SH were polled to gauge interest in participating in volleyball. The results have prompted school athletic officials to move forward with fielding a varsity squad.
“When you have 50-60 kids showing interest, you start having meetings,” Hood explained. “Now we are in the process of starting the sport. Probably near the first of March, we will start seeing some guy’s volleyball matches.”
According to the KHSAA website, 74 schools across the Commonwealth will participate in the first season of the new sanctioned sport. The KHSAA has divided the participating schools into eight regions. AC-S will be in Region 1 along with Adair County, Daviess County, Fort Campbell, Hart County, Ohio County, South Warren, and Trinity (Whitesville).
Unlike girls volleyball which is played in the fall, boys volleyball will be a spring sport. Its season will be similar to baseball and softball. According to the KHSAA, teams can start practice on February 3 with the regular season stretching from March 3 through May 7. Teams may schedule 25 contests leading up to postseason play---tournament action that starts at the regional level.
The regional tournament window is May 9-12. To field a 16-team state tournament, both the region winner and runner-up move on. First round state tournament play is May 14-17 with the state semifinals and finals May 20 at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester.
For AC-S, the process of finding a coach and an assistant coach is ongoing. However, Hood is quick to note that he feels candidates are available.
“The good thing is that we have (girls coach) Cameron Cook and his crew that have been around the volleyball scene,” Hood noted. “We do have some fall back plans but we do have the job posted and are waiting on applicants. We are looking forward to bringing another sport to the kids at AC-SHS.”
Students interested in playing on the first boys volleyball team can contact Coach Hood or Coach Cook for more information. Anyone interested in coaching can contact Hood, Cook, or high school Principal Shane Humphrey.
Boys volleyball is the 23rd KHSAA-sanctioned sport or activity available for student-athletes at AC-S.