Beechwood at Grant County Takeaways

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Beechwood Tigers and Grant County Braves met Thursday in Dry Ridge trying to continue to build on a number of positives both had seen to start the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right from the start, the Tigers (4-2 overall) controlled the best-of-three series winning 2-0 (25-6, 25-10). Whenever the Tigers took a hard swing, it hit the ground most of the time leading to a balanced attack as seven different Tigers recorded kills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='456263' first='Rachel' last='Lewandowski'] and [player_tooltip player_id='485948' first='Isabel' last='O'Brien'] both had nice all-around games recording some nice digs, solid serving and putting down balls a number of ways. Lewandowski also controlled the net with some blocks as a number of the young, but experienced Tigers are trying to become solid all-around players. [player_tooltip player_id='594624' first='Kendale' last='Lair'], Isabel Baaker and the 6-3 [player_tooltip player_id='827943' first='Teegan' last='Becker'] also had multi-kill games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The balance started on defense as eight different Tigers recorded at least one dig. Piper Steinmetz and Lair also had nice games there allowing Beechwood to get into a nice rhythm. Setter [player_tooltip player_id='456668' first='Skylr' last='Estep'] recorded her 1000th career assist in the first game consistently setting the ball to different hitters and continuously keeping the Braves guessing where the ball was going.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grant County head coach Stephanie Russell did agree the Braves (4-3) need to improve on first touches. When they did give [player_tooltip player_id='479311' first='Izzy' last='Russell'] her swings, she made some things happen. [player_tooltip player_id='479311' first='Izzy' last='Russell'] had 20 kills in the loss against Bishop Brossart on Tuesday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Braves did try to hit away from Beechwood libero Maggie Dawson. However, that's tough to do with a fundamentally sound Beechwood squad. The Tigers do not beat themselves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Unofficial Stat Leaders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kills</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='485948' first='Isabel' last='O'Brien'], Beechwood - 10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='594624' first='Kendale' last='Lair'], Beechwood - 5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Isabel Baaker, Beechwood - 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='479311' first='Izzy' last='Russell'], Grant County - 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='827943' first='Teegan' last='Becker'], Beechwood - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='456263' first='Rachel' last='Lewandowski'], Beechwood - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assists</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='456668' first='Skylr' last='Estep'], Beechwood - 20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joie Landrum, Grant County - 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Digs </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>O'Brien - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Piper Steinmetz, Beechwood - 5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='734313' first='Maggie' last='Howell'], Grant County - 5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lair - 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aces</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lewandowski - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>O'Brien - 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blocks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lewandowski - 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["456668"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":616143,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d213c7a4685"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Estep's experience is showing early on in the season and she continues to improve. She consistently reads defenses and places balls where needed to put the hitters in position to succeed. Estep also takes effective swings when the Tigers are out of system.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["827943"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d213c7a4728"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Becker gives the Tigers a strong net presence. She has sound timing on her blocks and is very enthusiastic after the Tigers score points. She has solid form on her approach then follow-through at the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":[484442],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":616156,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d213c7a4777"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">O'Brien has outstanding form on her hits, especially from the strong left side. She has effective roll shots and solid line serves. O'Brien smacks down overpassed balls with force. She's also a sound passer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["594624"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":616162,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d213c7a47bf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lair is another solid hitting option for the Tigers. She brings strength at the net and on defense. She squares her arms up to balls to make sound passes and can hit balls off blockers. Lair also serves to different spots on the court keeping opponents out of rhythm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["456263"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":616167,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d213c7a4801"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lewandowski has athletic genes and they especially show out on the court. She brings a lot of enthusiasm that her teammates feed off. It's tough to put things past her in the front row because she read hitters well. She's trying to become a solid all-around player. She also contributed passing the ball and serving the ball in the win at Grant County on Thursday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["479311"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":616174,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d213c7a4844"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Russell is a good multi-sport athlete for the Braves. She rises up and puts good power into balls landing them in different parts of the court. The more swings Russell takes in games, the better chances the Braves have at winning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->