Top 2025 Returning 5th Region Hitters to Watch this fall

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5th Region returns a boatload of hitters that will be tough to defend this fall. When they hit at the right angles, they will most likely hit the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["477135"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Cooke has been a big reason for Nelson County's rise in the 5th Region in recent years with her consistent play. Cooke finished fifth in the state with 624 kills because she has solid form, knowing where to guide balls and hitting them off blockers. Cooke does a great job reading hitters and can make adjustments in the air. Cooke is also a nice defender going after balls in different directions and has strong serves. Cooke earned a spot on the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association Second Team this past fall and won the in-season Kentucky Class 2A State Tournament Most Valuable Player honor. Cooke has earned spots on the 19th District and 5th Region All-Tournament teams and was named to the Junior Volleyball Association Watchlist these past two years. Cooke is also a good student earning Academic Honorable Mention this past two years with the KVCA. Cooke also had 274 digs, 78 aces, 24 solo and 13 assisted blocks helping Nelson County to a Class 2A state championship, a second straight 19th District crown and a second straight 5th Region semifinal appearance.rnu003cp class=u0022uni-textu002du002dsmallu0022u003eu003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":528118,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Sadie Atcher","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Central Hardin","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"SKEVA 18 Blue","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Atcher is one of serveral hitters teams had to defend this past season because you had a hard time telling where she would hit the ball. Atcher makes nice adjustments in the air to place balls away from defenders including tips to the middle of the floor. Atcher makes nice swings directing balls off blocks. Atcher makes sharp shots down the line. Atcher also does a good job smacking down overpasses and puts her arms in good position to make solid passes to start a solid offensive rhythm. Atcher finished second with 327 kills for Central Hardin to go with 25 assisted blocks, 280 digs and 41 aces helping the Bruins to a 36-5 record, a fourth straight 17th District crown and a 5th Region championship.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":528121,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Larkin Taylor","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Central Hardin","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"SKEVA 17 Blue","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Taylor provided a nice offensive weapon for Central Hardin this past fall and could see an expanded role with the graduation of two top hitters. Taylor is a force in the middle, constantly hitting balls off blocks for kills. Taylor can hit balls through blocks to the back row and can make nice touches to the lines away from blockers. She puts overkills away from defenders. Taylor 177 kills, 50 assisted blocks and 12 solos blocks helping the Bruins to a 36-5 record, a fourth straight 17th District crown and a 5th Region championship.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["477109"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":526541,"_player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Edelen has played a huge role lifting Nelson County from just eight wins combined in 2019 and '20 to three straight region tournament appearances. Edelen may appear to do one thing, but then the ball goes another direction because she does a great job making quick adjustments to put balls away from defenders. She can tip balls different directions when necessary. Edelen has such good form on her swings that even solid liberos have a hard time digging them up. Edelen can angle balls off blocks. Edelen is always active with her feet allowing her to cover ground quickly and make nice passes. Edelen had 532 kills, 25 solo blocks, 12 assisted blocks, 222 digs and 69 aces helping the Cardinals to an in-season 2A state championship, a second straight 17th District crown and third straight appearance in the Region 5 semifinals.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["477113"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":531008,"_player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Ingram hits balls hard through defenders to the lines. Ingram is not afraid to shove balls to the lines away from defender and can throw them off tipping to the middle and the far corners. Defenders may try to take lines away from her, but she can still hit balls there off blockers and out of bounds. Ingram had a team-high 328 kills to go with 289 digs and 46 aces helping Taylor County to a 25-12 record, a second straight 20th District championship and 5th Region semifinal appearance.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":531009,"_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Harper Johnson","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Taylor County","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Johnson brings versatility to the Cardinals as a hitter and defensive specialist. Can hit all over the court with an excellent follow-through, especially at the pins. She can reverse her steps quickly anticipating where balls are going and stays in rhythm with arms squaring up balls despite sliding to the ground. Johnson has active hands on blocks and has a nice low line drive serve to the middle. She fires up her teammates with her enthusiasm after Taylor County scores points. Johnson had 266 kills, 293 digs and 33 aces last year helping Taylor County to a 25-12 record, a second straight 20th District championship and 5th Region semifinal appearance.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66047ad1474c4"} /-->