Blackburn, Kinner earn Region 15 awards

STAFF REPORT

BSN

PAINTSVILLE — Paintsville High School senior setter Bella Blackburn and head coach Dawn Kinner have earned Region 15’s top honors from the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association.

Blackburn was named the Region 15 Player of the Year, and Kinner was named the Region 15 Coach of the Year.

Both Blackburn and Kinner were instrumental in Paintsville, capturing the 2022 Region 15 volleyball title and returning to the state tournament.

A full list of the honorees from regions across the state follows.

• Region 1 Player of the Year: Caroline Sivills (McCracken County).

• Region 2 Player of the Year: Kaitlyn Orange (Madisonville-North Hopkins).

• Region 3 Player of the Year: Josie Newcom (Daviess County).

• Region 4 Player of the Year: Kaia Barnett (Bowling Green).

• Region 5 Player of the Year: Sarah Clark (Elizabethtown).

• Region 6 Player of the Year: Maddie Hagan (Mercy Academy).

• Region 7 Player of the Year: Nya Bunton (DuPont Manual).

• Region 8 Player of the Year: Lucy Rankin (North Oldham).

• Region 9 Player of the Year: Julia Hunt (Covington Holy Cross).

• Region 10 Player of the Year: Audrey Griffith (Scott).

• Region 11 Player of the Year: Ava Jackson (Paul Laurence Dunbar).

• Region 12 Player of the Year: Addison Cunnagin (Somerset Christian).

• Region 13 Player of the Year: Marissa Douglas (Whitley County),

• Region 14 Player of the Year: Ginger Johnson (Wolfe County).

• Region 15 Player of the Year: Bella Blackburn (Paintsville).

• Region 16 Player of the Year: Sarah Paige Weddington (Lewis County).

• Region 1 Coach of the Year: Tim Whitis (McCracken County).

• Region 2 Coach of the Year: Cindy Fliehman (Madisonville-North Hopkins).

• Region 3 Coach of the Year: Daniel Morris (Whitesville Trinity).

• Region 4 Coach of the Year: Faith Womack (Russell County).

• Region 5 Coach of the Year: Derek Roby (Nelson County).

• Region 6 Coach of the Year: Connie Hulsmeyer (Mercy Academy).

• Region 7 Coach of the Year: Richard Weaver (DuPont Manual).

• Region 8 Coach of the Year: Kayla Gamsky (North Oldham).

• Region 9 Coach of the Year: Sandi Kitchen (Villa Madonna).

• Region 10 Coach of the Year: Bree Velazquez (Bishop Brossart).

• Region 11 Coach of the Year: Adam Ivetic (Great Crossing).

• Region 12 Coach of the Year: Mitzi Jones (Southwestern).

• Region 13 Coach of the Year: David Halcomb (Whitley County).

• Region 14 Coach of the Year: Jessica Todd (Lee County).

• Region 15 Coach of the Year: Dawn Kinner (Paintsville).

• Region 16 Coach of the Year: Katee Neltner (Boyd County).