Bluegrass Volleyball Academy Boyd County 17 Red Outlook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The [program_tooltip program_id='740321' first='Bluegrass' last='Volleyball Academy'] came about in December of 2018 making January of 2019 the first club season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Club Director Kayla VanHoose tried to find a local club for her stepdaughter Taylor VanHoose to play. However, the closest one was an hour and a half away and expensive. Thus, VanHoose founded the club with the mission of providing access to club volleyball in rural eastern Kentucky at an affordable rate. The staff continues to work fulltime job so they can get stipends as opposed to salaries. Kayla VanHoose said the club cuts down on financial costs by leasing local community centers and has put together facility use agreements with various school districts. Various local businesses pay for players to participate. Kayla VanHoose said she does not want to see a financial situation stop a player from the opportunity to improve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kayla VanHoose said she was coaching at Johnson County schools that first year so the program began operating there. The program started with one team and has since expanded to 22 teams in Boyd County, Lawrence County, Floyd County and Letcher County putting the academy on one end of US 23 to the other in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Boyd County 17 Red squad is made up of players from Boyd County High with the exception of Russell sophomore 6-0 outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='535185' first='Jaycee' last='Hall'], who is the team's tallest player. The other sophomore on the team is 5-6 Boyd County setter [player_tooltip player_id='754849' first='Casie' last='Porter']. The other 10 players are juniors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The dynamic 5-8 [player_tooltip player_id='479269' first='Baylee' last='Moore'] and 5-1 [player_tooltip player_id='754844' first='Josi' last='Crank'] are defensive specialists. They both recorded triple-digits in digs this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other setter is 5-4 [player_tooltip player_id='754843' first='Laura' last='Grace Chaffin'] and the team's lone middle blocker is 5-9 [player_tooltip player_id='754840' first='Hallie' last='Barnett']. The team has three more outside hitters in 5-8 [player_tooltip player_id='754834' first='Payton' last='Jones'], 5-7 Lilah Thornbury and 5-5 Natalee Ruggles. The three opposite hitters are 5-7 Maddie Stephens, 5-9 [player_tooltip player_id='754842' first='Sophia' last='Clark'] and 5-6 Audrey Ratliff.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boyd County struggled to an 18-19 mark this past season. The Lions only had one senior so they return a lot of experience in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jeff Huff is the team's head coach. The team has played in two tournaments so far compiling a 6-4 record. The next tournament is March 22 and 23 in the Buckeye Grand Prix at Spooky Nook in Hamilton, Ohio.</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":["479269"],"_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-67be800cc7ad5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Moore is as solid of a defender as anyone in the state. Her dedication and hours of practice on her own show on the court as Moore makes big play after big play to keep balls alive. Moore dug up a team-high 541 balls this past season, helping Lion County make it back to the 16th Region Tournament. Moore helped the Lions make it to the state quarterfinals for a third straight season as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["535185"],"_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-67be800cc7b32"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hall (pictured) is a versatile player so the Russell staff has used her all over the court. She will mainly play outside hitter for the club team. Hall can pound the ball from both the outside and the middle in addition to the back row. Hall can angle balls off blockers and out of bounds. Hall also makes things happen hitting the ball with both feet on the ground. Hall had 197 kills, 51 solo blocks and 32 assisted blocks, helping Russell make it to the 16th Region semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["754834"],"_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-67be86ee2c5ad"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jones emerged as the leading hitter for the Lions this past fall. Jones rises up and smacks balls to different parts of the court so defenders can not sit on certain spots. That includes a nasty cutter. Jones can take some pop off balls to hit them off blockers and in between defenders. Jones is also a sound defender and server. Jones had 294 kills, 156 digs and 55 aces, helping the Lions make it back to the 16th Region Tournament this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["754843"],"_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-67be86ee2c63c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Chaffin excelled at both setter and defensive specialist for Boyd County in the fall, but is expected to mainly play setter during club season. Chaffin does a great job mixing up her sets. She can do the back set. Chaffin adjusts well to her hitters. Chaffin then does a good job reacting on defense. She makes solid passes and tracks down balls quickly. Chaffin had 526 assists and 294 digs for Boyd County this past fall, helping the Lions make it back to the 16th Region Tournament.</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 one 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 -->