Central Kentucky VA team improving in short season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stephen Zink has been the head volleyball coach for the Taylor County Cardinals since the 2011 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A number of returning Taylor County players join him playing for the Central Kentucky Volleyball Academy located in Campbellsville. Seven did this year for the short season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All but one player in junior defensive specialist Sadie Young has some varsity experience. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='607229' first='Eden' last='Bland'] is taking the opportunity to get used to new teammates after transferring to Taylor County from Campbellsville. The middle blocker is the team's tallest player at 5-9.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore right side/middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='755646' first='Miya' last='Downs'] brings back the most experience after tallying 163 kills to help the Cardinals go 25-11 and win a third straight 20th District championship, seeing action in all 36 games. Sophomore 5-2 defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='755641' first='Claire' last='Melton'] saw action in 34 games last year and recorded 145 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5-6 defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='754825' first='Nell' last='Coyle'] saw action in 30 games this past season for the Cardinals. Junior 5-6 Sky Houk or 5-4 sophomore Sophie Hayes either sets or plays right side hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team is 15-10 on the season with one tournament win out of the five the team has played in so far. The team rallied to go 5-1 after dropping the first game and win the 17 Club Division in the K2 Club Clash in Knoxville on Jan. 25 and 26.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team has one last tournament left in the season. That is the Commonwealth Grand Prix this Saturday and Sunday in Lexington.</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":["607229"],"_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":754199,"_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-67bd14e474ea7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bland is showing some signs of progress during the club season. Bland makes things happen at the net with sound follow-throughs and sound blocking. She has also displayed a nice sinking serve. She can turn into a sound player with consistency.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["755641"],"_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-67bd14e474f84"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Melton turned into a nice defender for the Cardinals in the fall with sound first touches. She constantly moves her feet and quickly tracks down balls. She's not afraid to lean forward to square her arms up with balls. Melton had 145 digs for the Cardinals in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["755646"],"_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-67bd14e475039"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Downs turned into a nice hitter for the Cardinals in the fall and continues to improve during club season. Downs takes back sets and deposits them toward the line and away from defenders. Downs will improve with quicker arm swings. Downs had 163 kills for Taylor County in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["754825"],"_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-67be72acdbedb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coyle has shown she is ready to step into a big role for Taylor County this fall. Head Coach Stephen Zink said Coyle communicates well, is very athletic and solid on both offense and defense. Zink said she needs to be more aggressive in the front row and with her serving.</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 -->