ASHLAND — For three years, the Ashland VolleyCats have been on top of the 16th Region. But this year it looks to be wide open.

Starting the season Ashland has been looking to replace nine players with varsity experience. So far the VolleyCats are 3-6 and coach Jeffrey Huff said that record doesn’t really instill fear into the hearts of their opponents.

“We have players that are capable,” Huff said. “It’s about getting those players up to speed, that’s the difference in the game. The increased speed and working together as a team.

“We’ve got a big task ahead of us and it’s a long road, but it’s coming together.”

Leading the way for Ashland will be returning senior setter Abbey Card.

Huff will look to Card to be a leader on the floor.

“She is a big part of what we do,” Huff said. “She’s our quarterback on the floor. She’s a great leader and brings the team together, sets the tone for what we do.

“As a setter she doesn’t necessarily put stats on the board that get you noticed, but we’re going to rely on her leadership and experience.”

While Ashland still looks to be the top team in the 64th District, the 63rd District looks to be a fight to the finish with four of the top teams in the region.

Raceland (9-1), Lewis County (7-3), Greenup County (5-1) and Russell (5-5) have four of the top five records in the region at the start of the season.

But each has a loss to another team in the region.

“63rd District first round is the region semifinal,” said Raceland coach Jason Clark. “If you win the first round of the 63rd District you’ve won a region semifinal game. (If you win the) 63rd District championship, you get in the region finals. That’s how good the 63rd District is.”

Raceland so far has gotten off to a fast start, which included winning the EKC tournament, behind Brooke Lege, Scarlett Whitt and Abby Brogan.

But when talking about the Lady Rams, one name comes to the forefront: Bre Grubb.

“She’s the best player in the region,” Clark said. “She’s built the Raceland volleyball program by herself. She’s that good of a player.”

Even with the loss of All-Area Co-Player of the Year Kylie Rice, Russell is still in the mix.

Longtime Lady Devils coach Darrell Adkins will look to Sydney Watkins to pick up the slack of losing Rice.

“When you lose a player like Kylie Rice, you try to do something else,” Adkins said. “Sydney Watkins is one of the best players in the region. So we just have to do different things and change our style to fit our team.”

Along with Raceland and Russell, Lewis County and Greenup County have continued to grow.

The Lady Musketeers are led by sophomore middle hitter Kymbria Williams, who last season helped Greenup County and first-year head coach Lyndsey Thacker upset Raceland and reach the region tournament.

“She’s going to be tremendous,” Adkins said of Williams. “She’s athletic, she’s tall and she blocks everything. She has the ability to just be tremendous.”

Lewis County brings back senior hitter Tori Liles and senior Natalie Mineer. But history is not the Lady Lions side as they have never advanced past district tournament play in school history.

And while many are talking about the 63rd District and Ashland’s three straight region titles, there is one team from the 61st District that is putting some fear into the other coaches.

“Rowan County is the one with the bullseye,” said Adkins.

The Lady Vikings have yet to lose a game this season, starting out 5-0, and picked up an impressive win against Russell in the second game of the season.

Seniors Jessica Mullins and Shelby Adams lead a very experienced Rowan County team that returns eight juniors and seniors.

Along with Steve Walters, who is in his 21st season on the Rowan County sideline, the Lady Vikings could be the team to beat come region tournament time.

In the 62nd District many are looking at East Carter to repeat as champions. The Lady Raiders are led by outside hitter Stephanie Gollihue.

With no school appearing as the absolute favorite this year, many are more excited for the middle of October.

“This is the most wide open this region has been,” Clark said. “Who is going to rise to the top? There are six or seven teams that are there. The region tournament is just going to be grueling.”

But for Huff, who has been at the top the past three years, the key to winning the region is going to be simple.

“The team that wins the region is the team that will be minimizing their errors,” Huff said. “But it’s going to be who is playing out of their system the best. Who is feeling their way along and improvising on the spot. Good teams have to do that while they execute their game plan.”

KYLE HOBSTETTER can be reached at khobstetter@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2658.