Stat It Up- The Series: Top 5 Dig Leaders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You know them. You love them. You can't start a play without them. Let's talk about our passers, the defensive specialists who deserve a lot of the glory but never get the fame. Here's their time to shine. I give you the top 5 dig leaders in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":267408,"width":242,"height":238,"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/Screen-Shot-2022-12-13-at-3.38.22-PM.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-267408" width="242" height="238" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Adrionna Stopher</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#1, Adrionna Stopher </strong><em>(Fairdale)</em>- To lead the state, we have junior defensive specialist, Adrionna Stopher, that dug 646 balls in 70 sets which means she averaged 9.23 digs per set. Stopher is a little energizer bunny that is constantly moving and flying around for her team. In defense, Stopher will pursue any ball that comes her way and will even run through a wall to keep the ball up. She is so athletic that Stopher plays basketball too, and she averaged 10.8 points per game last year. Adrionna Stopher is an unstoppable athlete and will be one of the best to play at Fairdale ever. Can't wait to watch this kid her senior year! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#2, [player_tooltip player_id='170947' first='Livia' last='Sanders']</strong> <em>(Pike County Central)</em>- Another junior defensive specialist, [player_tooltip player_id='170947' first='Livia' last='Sanders'], took the number two spot on the list because of her 873 digs on the year in 99 sets. Her average was 8.82 digs per set, and she also racked up 60 service aces to lead the team. Sanders earned 60th All-District honors after her squad lost a tough five-setter in the district championship to Phelps. In that game alone, Sanders rallied 37 digs and 2 service aces. Those are some numbers!! Sanders also plays softball, and she's equally as talented where she was awarded District All-Tournament team last year. [player_tooltip player_id='170947' first='Livia' last='Sanders'] is a true player and will be a force to watch next year in her senior campaign! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3, Page Johnson</strong> <em>(Berea)</em>- Coming in hot with the number three spot, we have senior defensive specialist, Page Johnson who dug 496 balls in 61 assists. Averaging 8.13 digs per set, Page Johnson flew around in the back row for the Lady Pirates. Against Burgin, Page Johnson had a season-high of 32 digs in 5 sets which is just extremely impressive. Johnson always gives every ball all she's got, and it's quite obvious in her play. Berea will definitely miss this star libero! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":267409,"width":220,"height":244,"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-2022-12-13-at-3.39.42-PM.png?w=924" alt="" class="wp-image-267409" width="220" height="244" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Mikayla Moons</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4, Mckenna Moons</strong> <em>(Clinton County</em>)- At the number four spot, we have senior, Mckenna Moons, who gathered 811 digs in 103 sets which made her average 7.87 digs a set. Moons is unlike any other defensive specialist because of her ability to move naturally in defense. She picks up on the off-speed balls so easily and reads the offense very well. I had the opportunity to watch Clinton County this past season, and Mckenna Moons always started off the play with a great ball to target. Moons earned All District honors this year because she truly was the glue to this team's defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5, Emalie Tackett</strong> <em>(Pike County Central)</em>- I want to know where Pike Country Central is finding their defensive specialists because they have not one but two stud players that made the top 5 list! Emalie Tackett was a senior outside hitter for the squad and consisted of 755 digs in 99 sets which made her average 7.63 digs per set! Not only does Tackett dig so many balls in the back row, but she can perform just as well in the front row where she had 313 kills and averaged 3.16 kills a set. Emalie Tackett is just a great all-around volleyball player and was so special to watch in her senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->