KIVA 16 Red features some of Kentucky’s best

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players that make this team only get better because it often features some of the best around the state, especially in one of the two main hotbeds of the state in the Louisville area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption's [player_tooltip player_id='212396' first='Emily' last='Keiran'] looks ready to take some bigger steps leading the team with 432 digs. Kentucky Country Day's [player_tooltip player_id='477118' first='Ryelle' last='Rondo'] is also putting up strong numbers with 225 and the two lead the team with 44 aces each. Keiran's Assumption teammate [player_tooltip player_id='212399' first='Kathryn' last='O'Toole'] is also having a nice season with 178 digs and 40 aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption's [player_tooltip player_id='212400' first='Jillian' last='Bohannon'] has been putting hitters in good position with 989 assists. She's trying to become a well-rounded player with 171 digs, 42 assisted blocks and 34 aces. Seymour's Anna Fish is mainly going to hit for this team, but can also step in at setter. Fish has 143 kills, 33 assisted blocks, 29 aces, 159 digs and is second with 98 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bohannon and Fish can set up a lot of size at the net as three player stand six feet and above. Elizabethtown's [player_tooltip player_id='212253' first='Jessica' last='Smallwood'] is the tallest at 6-5. Smallwood unsurprisingly leads the team with 328 kills, 32 solo blocks and 91 assists. Smallwood also continues strong serving with 30 aces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mercy's Mady Yaden and Green County's [player_tooltip player_id='276179' first='Emma' last='Emmons'] also give the setters nice options at 6-0 even and 6-1. Yaden is dominating the net second on the team with 221 kills, 17 solo and 67 assisted blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams can not overlook the 5-11 [player_tooltip player_id='212398' first='Ella' last='Askin'] from Assumption or [player_tooltip player_id='212249' first='Cameron' last='Owens'] from Bryan Station out of Lexington. Owens and Askin have 196 and 181 kills, respectively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>KIVA 16 Red owns a record of 33-23 on the season going 7-2 in two tournaments. The team won the Martin Luther King 16 Open championship in Houston on Jan. 15.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The coaches are Melissa Starck-Bean, Jessica Fujimoto and Richard Weaver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The next tournament is the Junior Volleyball Association World Challenge that runs April 12 through 14 in Louisville at the Kentucky Exposition Center.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["212253"],"_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":"Smallwood is a gifted athlete all over the court and not just the front row so the Elizabethtown coaches do not have to sub in for her when it is her turn to rotate to the back row. Smallwood is lethal in the front row using her 6-5 height to her advantage. Smallwood does a great job seeing the floor and taking advantage of the openings. Her solid swings are so tough that solid liberos have a hard time digging them up. Smallwood is not afraid to tip the ball to the sides of blockers in the front row and can even hit to the line from both the front row and back row. She does a great job moving her feet and positioning herself for blocks. It's tough to get around her on double blocks. Not only that, her well-aimed serves are hard to handle because they are hard line drives. It's tough to judge if they are in or out on the back row because she can paint the line on the serves. Smallwood also excels on defense consistently hustling after every ball near her. Smallwood has landed on the KVCA First Team All-State squad twice. Smallwood earned the 5th Region Player of the Year honor last year leading the state with 695 kills, 211 solo blocks and 221 total blocks. Smallwood also had 400 digs and 68 aces facing the top teams in Kentucky helping Elizabethtown to a 23-14 record and runner-up finishes in the 17th District and 5th Region.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["479273"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":531738,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Yaden plays all six positions well making her a threat offensively and defensively both at the net and in the back row. Hitters have a hard time fooling her because she sees the other side well and moves quickly to make solid passes. Yaden is tough to defend on back sets with her quick follow-through. Yaden can throw defenses off tipping the ball to the middle and is a solid blocker. Yaden made sure Mercy did not miss the state tournament for just the second time since it began in 1979 putting up team-highs of 309 kills, 34 solo and 63 assisted blocks helping the Jaguars to the state semifinals.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["276179"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":528323,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Emmons is a force in the front. Her swings to the opposite line are tough for defenders to dig up. Emmons is not afraid to take some force off swings to make sure they hit the target. Teams have to respect her blocking ability at the net. That gives her teammates time to make plays when opponents tip over her. Emmons is also trying to become a solid defender and server. Emmons helped Green County to a 24-10 record last year with an All u0022Au0022 5th Region crown and a sixth straight 18th District championship with 288 kills, 52 solo blocks, 36 assisted blocks, 162 digs and 70 aces.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["212399"],"_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":532961,"_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":"O'Toole probably starts at other places, but the loaded Assumption team has depth at all positions, especially defensive specialist. O'Toole is still putting in the work to make a difference serving and on defense. Her teammates can count on her to read hitters and make solid passes. O'Toole also possesses a tough serve that can go straight back or off to the side in the back row.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["477118"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"KIVA 16 Red is trying to do everything possible to take advantage of Rondo's athleticism and versatility. Rondo can slide all over the court to make smooth passes and adjusts her hands well on deflected balls. Rondo also hustles up near the net quickly to defend on potential blocks. Rondo gives the team an offensive weapon from the back row with a firm swing. Rondo helped Kentucky Country Day to a 15-10 record and All u0022Au0022 7th Region title with 222 kills, 20 solo blocks, 15 assisted blocks, 213 digs and 31 aces.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66047b7091c07"} /-->