Bowling Green girls volleyball eyes historic weekend at state tournament

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – After defeating Apollo in straight sets on Monday evening, Bowling Green has advanced into the 2026 KHSAA Girls Volleyball State Tournament quarterfinals for the third straight season.

Since the victory, the Lady Purples have been hard at work preparing their game so they can feel good heading into the Elite Eight, where a matchup with the Whitley County Lady Colonels awaits them.

Bowling Green has one more game set for certain but could possibly play three total over the span of two days if the team fulfills its pursuit of the first state title in program history.

Lady Purples head coach Keith Carver called his squad tenacious and one that hates losing.

The belief and grit of the group has them one win from matching the farthest finish in school history, which happened back in 2022.

“ It’s definitely going to take us pushing ourselves to the max. I know we’re all tired. We all have to overcome that, take all the energy that we have, bring it all, leave everything out on the floor, and I feel like that will help us come out on top,” senior Layah Britt said.

“It’s just a volleyball game, possibly three volleyball games, that’s the biggest thing I think we gotta be able to control,” Carver said. “All we can control is our side, do our jobs, and just try not to make the moment too big and just try to live in it.”

“I like to say that volleyball is just one part of this program. You know, we work on community and friendship, and this is such a special group of girls,” senior JoEllen Marshall said. “I’ve been so blessed four years in a row with a drama-free team, and it’s great, so I’m going to miss it so much.”

First serve between Bowling Green and Whitley County is set for 7:30 p.m. at George Rogers Clark High School on Friday night.