MAVA 16 Select Stacked with Size, Skill
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The MidAmerica Volleyball Association 16-Under Select team has traveled to five states in addition to playing in three tournaments in backyard Louisville. The team coached by Nelson County head coach Anna Palmer and assisted by Shelby Tirbs has taken some…
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Continue ReadingThe MidAmerica Volleyball Association 16-Under Select team has traveled to five states in addition to playing in three tournaments in backyard Louisville.
The team coached by Nelson County head coach Anna Palmer and assisted by Shelby Tirbs has taken some lumps, but did go 5-0 winning the MAVA Fireworks CArterburn lassic on April 20 and 21. They have gone 29-36 on the season.
The likes of Christian Academy-Louisville’s Kylee Sells Kylee Sells 5'4" | DS/L Christian Academy of Louisville | 2026 KY , Seymour (Indiana) High’s Norah Campbell and Elizabethtown’s Grace Godfrey Grace Godfrey DS/L Elizabethtown | 2026 KY start things as defensive specialists. Then setter Brinlee Marshall Brinlee Marshall 5'7" | OH Bullitt East | 2026 KY from Bullitt East tries to put hitters in solid position if she does not make that first pass.
Marshall has a number of options with size in the middle starting with Ballard’s 6-6 Ella Grivna Ella Grivna 6'6" | MB Ballard | 2026 KY and 6-4 Ava Liening Ava Liening 6'3" | MB Ballard | 2026 KY along with Sacred Heart Academy’s Jordyn McCormick-Reed. Liening and McCormick-Reed can also hit from outside.
Marshall can also go outside to Whitefield Academy’s Taylor Wathen Taylor Wathen 6'3" | OH Whitefield Academy | 2026 KY , Ballard’s Marleigh Tripp and Oldham County’s Ava Arterburn Ava Arterburn 5'10" | MB Oldham County | 2026 KY . Tripp and Aterburn give the team versatility as defensive specialists.
The next tournament is Sunday in the Pioneer Region championships in Louisville.
Godrey will be counted on for a bigger role this fall with the graduation of two of the top four digs leaders for the Panthers. Godfrey has quick hands and solid form making her a pure passer. Godfrey consistently moves her feet diving hard after balls and digging them with one arm. She has a sizzling jump serve. Godfrey had 168 digs helping the Panthers to a 23-14 record and 5th Regio Tournament runner-up finish.
Marshall is trying to become a solid all-around player for both her high school and club teams. Marshall plays defensive specialist for club and high school and had more of a hitter role for Bullitt East in the fall, while transitioning to more of a setter role for the club team. Marshall provides great coverage at the net squaring up arms with balls even diving on the ground for balls. Marshall can cover ground fast. Offensively, Marshall calls for balls, scans defenses quickly and makes quick adjustments trying to place balls away from defenders. She has a solid follow-through even from the back row and draw attention on fakes opening things up for other hitters. As a setter, Marshall angles balls to where hitters can smack them down including back sets. Marshall throws opponents off with dumps and corner shots. Marshall also serves nice balls to the back line. Marshall had 297 kills, 24 assisted blocks, seven solo blocks, 368 digs and 79 aces this past fall helping the Chargers go 29-8, win the 24th District with the first win over state power Mercy Academy in 26 meetings since the two became district foes in 2012 and finish 6th Region runner-up.
Highlights
Wathen gives her club and high school teams a solid net presence. She moves side to side well timing attacks and puts down overpasses. It’s tough to put balls passed her on double blocks. Offensively, she takes full advantage of her size and athleticism to put balls over, around and off blockers and makes adjustments to do so on off-target passes. Wathen puts her body in great position to execute formidable attacks from the pins and the middle on short sets. Wathen has great spin on her jump serves and is a formidable passer. Wathen had 382 kills, 22 solo blocks, 15 assisted blocks, 78 digs and 44 aces for Whitefield Academy last year.
Highlights
Grivna is tough at the net because she extends her arms so well. She uses that to deflect balls in the air for her teammates to pass if balls do not go down on the other side. Size from teammates helps her put up a formidable double block. She takes quick steps before balls even reach the setter’s hands giving her an advantage in the middle and sliding to the pins for powerful attacks. Grivna does not seem to mind taking things off the attacks to confuse opponents. Grivna smacks down overpasses hard. Grivna had 197 kills, 41 solo blocks and 73 assisted blocks helping Ballard to a 26-10 record and spot in the 7th Region Tournament this past fall.