Stat It Up- The Series: The Next Five Kill Leaders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Well, the readers have spoken, and I am here to deliver. I had so much love for the "Stat It Up" series that I decided to run it back but with numbers 6-10 in every category. Therefore, I give you the next five kill leaders in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":258358,"width":286,"height":190,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/DSC03324.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-258358" width="286" height="190" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#6, [player_tooltip player_id='106665' first='Nya' last='Bunton']</strong> <em>(DuPont Manual)</em>- The obvious choice for one of the best attackers in the state, I present #6 in the kill rankings, senior middle blocker, [player_tooltip player_id='106665' first='Nya' last='Bunton']. With 578 kills in in 109 sets, Bunton averaged 5.30 kills per set. She also helped the team with 53 blocks, 104 digs, and 52 service aces. [player_tooltip player_id='106665' first='Nya' last='Bunton'] is just a gifted athlete and watching her play volleyball draws every eye in the stands. Standing at 6'3, Bunton can simply hit any shot in the book. Playing outside for DuPont this year, Bunton was relied upon by the team to get a kill and always delivered. Whether it's hard cross, down the line, tipping, or just simply owning the net, Bunton somehow found a way to score and made it look easy. It just makes sense that she was on the 2022 U19 National Team this past summer and committed to the University of Texas.... Congrats on a great senior season, and do not forget Kentucky! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#7, Mikayla Wilder </strong><em>(Bell County)</em>- A junior outside hitter from Bell County, Mikayla Wilder tallied up 540 kills in 102 sets which made her average kills per set, 5.29. Wilder was also an all-around baller where the team counted on her in the front and back row. She had 66 blocks, 218 digs, and 122 service aces. In Bell County's tough five set loss to Harlan County in the district championship, Wilder led the team with 23 kills, 2 blocks, 10 digs, and 2 service aces and recorded a double-double. Mikayla Wilder is the kid that steps up when the game gets hard, and she will be a great senior leader to the squad next year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#8, [player_tooltip player_id='157442' first='Lillian' last='Burnett']</strong> <em>(Christian Fellowship)</em>- Next up, in the eighth slot, with 538 kills in 102 sets, we have senior outside hitter, [player_tooltip player_id='157442' first='Lillian' last='Burnett']. These numbers I am going to share about Burnett are simply insane. Let's make note that she led her team in EVERY category. Yes, she might have been the person to set in the front row, but she was also swinging in the back row, making that crucial dig defensively, and scoring aces behind the service line. Burnett averaged 5.27 kills per set and then racked up 61 blocks, 341 digs, and 77 service aces. [player_tooltip player_id='157442' first='Lillian' last='Burnett'] was the heart and soul of this team and led them with all she had. Can't wait to see what this stud does in her next chapter in college.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#9, [player_tooltip player_id='207265' first='Torie' last='Sparks']</strong> <em>(Bethlehem)</em>- Scoring 551 kills in 105 sets, senior stud, [player_tooltip player_id='207265' first='Torie' last='Sparks'], put on a show this year for her last time wearing the Bethlehem uniform. Sparks <strong>was</strong> the spark for her squad and always ignited fire, energy, and emotion. Averaging 5.25 kills per set, this star hitter also performed well in all other areas of the game with 341 assists, 230 digs, and 60 service aces. As you can tell from her stats, this 5'10 outside hitter has hands of gold and helped her team in the setting position. [player_tooltip player_id='207265' first='Torie' last='Sparks'] can literally do it all, and she definitely earned her spot in the top 10 of the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":269345,"width":293,"height":251,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Screen-Shot-2022-12-14-at-10.20.06-PM.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-269345" width="293" height="251" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: David Asher</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#10, [player_tooltip player_id='202059' first='Remmi' last='Cooke']</strong> <em>(Nelson County)</em>- Do we save the best for last? I think we do because this is our first underclassman in this article... I present sophomore outside hitter, [player_tooltip player_id='202059' first='Remmi' last='Cooke'], of Nelson County who scored 467 kills in 94 sets. Cooke averaged 4.97 kills per set and also had 31 blocks, 258 digs, and 36 service aces. I loved watching Cooke compete in her last game this season where Nelson County played Elizabethtown and lost in four, but she raised up and had 20 kills. Cooke's windup and strong approach makes her so hard to defend, and she also has so many shots whether it's tooling the blocker, hitting the deep cross, or attacking from a pipe. The scariest part is Cooke has 2 more years! It'll be so fun to watch her grow and become arguably one of the best in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->