By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
After winning three Region 6 tournament matches in straight sets by an average margin of 7.6 points, the Ryle boys volleyball team is primed for a state playoff run.
The Raiders completed that impressive sweep Saturday with a 25-16, 25-17, 25-19 victory over Oldham County in the region final. They will enter the state tournament with a 17-3 record and 10-match winning streak
“I told them after this match the way their playing right now they’re giving themselves the best chance at a state run that we could ask for,” said Ryle coach Heather Kidd. “We’re right where we need to be.”
The state tournament begins Monday with region champions playing region runner-up teams in eight first-round matches. Ryle will host Powell County (11-5) at 7 p.m. Monday.
The winner of that match will face either undefeated state champion Louisville St. Xavier (26-0) or Lexington Dunbar (13-10) in the quarterfinals Friday at George Rogers Clark High School.
The Raiders will be looking for their first state tournament victory after losing to Louisville Trinity, 3-0, in the first round of the inaugural state sanctioned playoffs for boys volleyball last year.
“This year, we’ve worked more as a team than just as individuals,” said Ryle senior middle hitter Max Kidd, the coach’s son. “It’s just amazing how everybody has grown and just done better in their own way to work as a team.”
Max was named most valuable player on the Region 6 all-tournament team. In the title match, he had seven kills and three blocks. Left-handed outside hitter Drew Stropko had 16 kills to lead the Raiders’ balanced attack that Oldham County could not contain.
“I’m really proud that I have a team where we can set our middle and not be middle dominated,” said coach Kidd. “When we are in our system, (an opponent’s) defense can’t cheat. They have to stay with our middle, and if we don’t set our middle they have to chase to wherever we do set it.”
In the first set of the region final, coach Kidd called a timeout after Oldham County scored four straight points to pull within 15-13.
The Raiders responded by closing the set with a 10-3 run and their last two points came on a service ace by Max and kill by Stropko.
A kill by Oldham County senior outside hitter Derek Dees made it 21-17 in the second set. Once again, the Raiders rose to the challenge and came away with a 25-17 decision. Max scored twice on blocks during his team’s decisive final run.
In the third set, kills by Ryle sophomore outside hitter Ishan Senthi provided three of the Raiders’ final five points in a 25-19 win that ended the match.
“Our game plan was to be aggressive and just hit away,” Max said. “We are a very diverse team. We use every hitter we have and can always put a ball away when we need to.”
REGION 6 ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Ryle — Max Kidd (MVP), Drew Stropka, Ryota Kondo, Eddie Rieffer. Oldham County — Derek Dees, Wyatt Burke, Brooks Kightlinger. Simon Kenton — Nehemiah Kaai, Henry Alo. Walton-Verona — Tristan Clifton, Shawn Sinkhorn. Calvary Christian — Thomas Getsey. Scott — Jett Hanks. Boone County — Eric Lipps. Collins — Gage Miller. Shelby County — Carl Riley. North Oldham — Michael Phipps.