Kentucky Indiana Volleyball Academy 16s Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the original clubs tends to reload at the top levels each year and this year is no different.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A total of 12 Assumption players grace the rosters of these four teams. Some region opponents are not far behind as DuPont Manual has five on the White team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Red</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore 6-1 middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='484326' first='Carle' last='Hooe'] and freshman 5-7 outside/opposite hitter [player_tooltip player_id='611724' first='Brooke' last='Codey'] helped propel the Assumption Rockets to the state record 24th state championship this past fall. Three sophomore classmates have joined them in defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='484323' first='Cheyenne' last='Reyes'], defensive specialist Madelyn Faulkner and setter [player_tooltip player_id='603778' first='Addison' last='Hurley'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association 13th Region Player of the year in North Laurel sophomore outside/opposite hitter [player_tooltip player_id='603744' first='Reagan' last='Isaac'] will be making the trek to Louisville, bringing some height at 6-0. North Oldham sophomore lefty [player_tooltip player_id='484260' first='Lilah' last='Anthony'] joins her at outside/opposite hitter with two Floyd Central middle blockers Riley Roberts and Riley Jackson at 6-1 and 6-0, respectively. Silver Creek sophomore defensive specialist Dannah Kerberg rounds out the roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Melissa Starck-Bean, Jessica Fujimoto and Manual head coach Richard Weaver coach the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>White</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team may just have one player at 6-0 in Manual middle blocker Kali Dearborn, but the team still has plenty of athleticism. The other middle blocker is Assumption middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='484327' first='Emily' last='Poteraj']. The team has two defensive specialists in Manual sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='484421' first='Suzetta' last='Fuller'] and Calista Easley. The setters are Manual sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='484420' first='Alyssa' last='Faber'] and Assumption sophomore Natalie Whitsell.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Half the roster is made of outside/opposite hitters from five different schools. Three recognizable names are Lafayette sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='484422' first='Audrey' last='Gossett'], Bryan Station sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='535191' first='Urijah' last='Allen'] and Manual sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='484427' first='Piper' last='Fulton']. The other two are Assumption sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='883058' first='Lillian' last='Krutsinger'] and Sacred Heart sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='484325' first='Ava' last='Mineer'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The coaches are Eastern head coach Paul Harvey and Ceci Rush.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Black</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team is filled with players a lot of potential led by Eminence outside/opposite hitter [player_tooltip player_id='484434' first='Bryce' last='Berry'] and Shelby County middle blocker Kendall Hutchison. Oldham County's [player_tooltip player_id='780296' first='Ella' last='Knight'] is the other middle blocker and Assumption's [player_tooltip player_id='398591' first='Addison' last='Martin'] is the other outside/opposite hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mercy's [player_tooltip player_id='556153' first='Olivia' last='Duncan'] and Frederick Douglass sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='611969' first='Jordan' last='McCrary'] are the setters. The team has four defensive specialists in Assumption's Claire Colson, Allison Newman, Mercy's Winter Smith and Sacred Heart's Kaitlyn Ward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The coaches are Emily Fulton and Bruce Roberson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Silver</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has a solid defensive specialist in Seneca sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='484280' first='Gianna' last='Reynoso']. Louisville Holy Cross sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='727136' first='Leah' last='Evans'] and Oldham County sophomore defensive specialist Bella Warner also received significant action this past season. The third defensive specialist is Mercy's [player_tooltip player_id='784803' first='Kylie' last='Harrington'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two Bullitt East teammates comprise the middle blocker spots in 6-0 Grace Varney and 5-9 Madilyn Hider. The four sophomore outside/opposite hitters are Central Hardin's Kate Disselkamp, Louisville Holy Cross' Emma Rosebuch, Audrey Gilmore from Assumption and Mercy's Riley Shellman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The coaches are Callie Martin and Alexis Triplett.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All four teams play in the Mideast Power League in Louisville on Jan. 4 and 5.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["603744"],"_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-6751111ba9023"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">North Laurel head coach James Hendrix is glad to have her around for two more years for a good number of reasons. The University of Kentucky staff clocked Isaac's hit at 44 miles per hour last summer. Isaac smacks balls hard to different parts of the court at both the pins and the middle. The six-rotation player also led the Jaguars in passing and serving. Isaac brings solid all-around play to the Jaguars on defense with her outstanding touch and block timing. Hendrix said he'd like to see her be more consistent hitting from the back row, adding she struggles some if she misses some hits from there. Isaac had 432 kills, 192 digs and 67 aces helping North Laurel to a 49th District championship and a spot in the region tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484326"],"_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-6751191b934af"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Assumption rarely lacks size and Hooe will give the Rockets more of that these next two years. Hooe (pictured) does a great job disrupting things at the net with solid timing on her blocks. Hooe is a great hitting option in the middle. Hooe smacks it hard one play, then pushes balls to the side on the next play. She hands soft hits in both the front and back row throwing off defenders. Hooe had 156 kills, 20 solo and 48 assisted blocks for the Rockets this past season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["535191"],"_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-67512b40042b6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Allen gives the Defenders a great option on the go routes outside. Allen can hit them hard to the back, off defenders and down the line. Allen is an option out of tandem sets and sends some soft hits to the front row. Allen is trying to become a solid all-around player as a sound passer. Allen had 176 kills, 185 digs and 41 aces for the Defenders last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kendall Hutchison","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Shelby County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Adidas KIVA","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67512b4004365"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hutchison played a big role in helping the Rockets make the region tournament for the first time since 2017 with her play in the front row. Hutchison executes quicks really well smacking the low balls to the lines. She can also hit balls hard from outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["728929"],"_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-67512b40043ee"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Warner has put in a lot of work over the years and it started to show this past season. Warner does a great job reading plays and hustling down balls. She constantly makes two to three-point passes to the setters and is sound on serve reception. Warner's role should expand this fall with the graduation of eight seniors. Warner had 163 digs for the Colonels this past season, leading them to a 24-9 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Note from the Writer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mike Graham has been writing for Prep Dig for nearly a year and has enjoyed getting to know the volleyball scenes in both Kentucky and Ohio. If you liked the story, please copy and paste to X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. You may also follow us at @prepdigkentucky or @prepdigoh on Instagram in addition to @PrepDigKy or @PrepDigOH on X. If you feel someone in Kentucky or Ohio needs coverage, please email Mike at pnmikeg@yahoo.com. You may also follow him on X @GMCgrah or Instagram @g.michaelgraham. Subscriptions give you access to exclusive content. For a 30% discount, enter code graham30 at checkout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->