Northern Kentucky Junior Volleyball 15s Teams Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A number of these names may not be known outside the junior varsity and freshman team levels yet, but that could change next fall as the club fields three teams this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Highlands freshman outside/right side hitter [player_tooltip player_id='608333' first='Bella' last='Thomas'] leads this team after playing in 39 games this season, helping the Bluebirds win an eighth straight 36th District Tournament title and win the first 9th Region quarterfinal game in five years. Two Highlands teammates in outside hitter/defensive specialist Isla Green and setter/outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='779997' first='Carly' last='Skirvin'] join her on this team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another recognizable name on this team is Bracken County freshman outside/right side hitter Isabella Godman. She played in 20 games for the Bears this past season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two Conner teammates in Jayda Burning and [player_tooltip player_id='780003' first='Lillian' last='Kamm'] are listed as defensive specialists with Ryle freshman Kiylee Kemper playing defensive specialist or outside hitter. Three St. Henry players round out the roster starting with 6-1 middle blocker Hadley Lemmond. Middle/outside hitter Mackenzie Erpenbeck and right side/setter Josie Folzenlogen are the other two Crusaders on the roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Highlands assistant Erin Riggs is coaching this team again this season. The team's first event is the Martin Luther King Extravaganza on Jan. 18 and 19.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>White</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scott freshman outside hitter/defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='734852' first='Jacinda' last='Campbell'] saw 21 games of action on varsity this past season. Newport Central Catholic freshman Miley Wolf will also play both positions standing as the team's tallest player at 5-10 with St. Henry freshman [player_tooltip player_id='627611' first='Kate' last='Seiter'] also looking to contribute on the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ryle freshman Gracelyn Charais and St. Henry freshman Grace Fette are the listed defensive specialists. Highlands freshman Carson Jacobs and Conner freshman Addyson Back will either set or play defensive specialist. Beechwood freshman Charlotte Grubb and Notre Dame freshman Erin Scheuerle will play in the middle or the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kerstin Ficker is the coach of this team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Black</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team does not have a lot of size as the two tallest player stand at 5-9 in St. Henry freshman Averi Smith and Notre Dame freshman Gigi Stacy. Both play middle hitter with Smith playing outside as well and Stacy also playing right side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That does not mean some names won't emerge from this team in the fall. Ryle freshman Madelyn Harvey plays defensive specialist or libero. Newport Central Catholic freshman Claire Bucher will set or play right side hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other five players on the roster could play defensive specialist roles. Notre Dame freshmen McKenna Bibbins and Rylee Riddle along with Conner's Callianne Caldwell will also play outside hitter. Highlands freshman McKinley Jones will play right side hitter and Ryle freshman Katherine Bryan will also play opposite hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jasmine Caudill is the coach of this team. The White and Black teams open the season in the Central Zone Invitational in Indianapolis on Jan. 25 and 26.</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":["608333"],"_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-676618801a3e8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Thomas (pictured) has been trying to take big steps in the club season, knowing the Highlands staff will ask more of her in the fall with the graduation of key hitters. Thomas established herself at the net with solid timing on her blocks. Thomas has great athleticism with a nine-foot net approach. Thomas displayed hints of greatness on short sets. Thomas could turn into a solid varsity hitter with consistency. Thomas had 17 solo blocks, 70 assisted blocks and 85 kills this past season, helping Highlands go 29-10 with an eighth straight 36th District crown and win the first 9th Region Tournament game since 2019.</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":"Isabella Godman","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bracken County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='430241' first='Northern' last='Kentucky Junior Volleyball']","_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-67661d024c16f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Godman has had some solid moments as an eighth grader and freshman for the Bears on the varsity level. Godman has shown she can locate her soft shots well to find the floor. That includes tapping balls over taller blockers. Godman could be a force at the net for Bracken County these next three seasons with consistency. Godman had 63 kills, helping the Bears to a 25-13 record and second straight 39th District crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["734852"],"_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-67661d024c269"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Campbell showed some nice touches in limited varsity action for Scott this past fall. She can hit balls hard to the back row and tip over blockers on the left side in the front row to the left line. Campbell is hoping to develop more to help fill in some big roles for the Eagles in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["627611"],"_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-67662443687c2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">St. Henry and the club team have some options with Seiter. She has shown potential to set up teammates or take swings at the net on the sub-varsity teams for the Crusaders. Versatility generally goes a long way for St. Henry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->