<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The 5th Region saw a number of sophomores emerge this past season and a number of them are playing together in this age group.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Blue</strong></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>North Hardin Christian sophomore Sofia Romero-Padilla leads at libero/defensive specialist after a strong season. Central Hardin sophomore Ramsey Nickell could be the setter. </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Two other Central Hardin sophomores grace the roster in defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='484295' first='Katelynn' last='Camenzind'] and middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='769025' first='Audrey' last='Bennett']. Adair County sophomore standout middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id='535275' first='Olivia' last='Mantooth'] also brings some punch in the middle.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Two of the 5th Region's better outside hitters come in hoping to do more there in John Hardin junior [player_tooltip player_id='533344' first='Abby' last='Moore'] and LaRue County sophomore Maxie Blakey. Thomas Nelson junior Sarah Riley and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='603447' first='Morgan' last='Ballard'] hope to do damage on the outside or the middle and Bethlehem's [player_tooltip player_id='781046' first='Sloane' last='Smith'] hopes to take swings from the outside.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Lauren Foster is the head coach of this team. The team is 13-0 on the season so far winning the 15/16 Girls in the KIVA Icebreaker and the 16 Club Red Division of the Central Zone Invitational. The next tournament is the [program_tooltip program_id='510734' first='Lexington' last='United'] Winterfest in Lexington this Saturday and Sunday.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Green Cassie</strong></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>This team has some players that saw varsity action in 26 or more games, but for the most part, they saw limited action. They're hoping to develop more to change that in the fall.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Nelson County sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='752914' first='Madison' last='Brown'] saw action in 29 games as an outside/opposite hitter and sophomore teammate [player_tooltip player_id='603813' first='Marli' last='Filiatreau'] played in 26 games at either outside or middle blocker. Central Hardin sophomore defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='603785' first='Addison' last='Sego'] dressed for 26 games.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Two sophomores in Thomas Nelson's [player_tooltip player_id='795728' first='Kinley' last='Unseld'] and Nelson County's [player_tooltip player_id='802718' first='Lynnsie' last='Gilliland'] bring some experience at libero or defensie specialist. Bethlehem's Madeline Krill could also play libero or defensive specialist.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Central Hardin junior Elizabeth Perry could play outside or right side hitter and North Hardin sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='827777' first='Scarlett' last='Vaughn'] brings varsity experience at middle hitter. Meade County's Ava Frank and Central Hardin's Addelynn Stearman round out the roster.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Nelson County head coach Cassie Sizemore is the coach of this team. The first tournament is Feb. 8 and 9 in Louisville in the Super Slam at MidAmerica Sports Center.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>Green Kelli</strong></p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>These 10 players may not have impacted the varsity this past fall. However, it is not uncommon for some to emerge.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Thomas Nelson sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='794328' first='Halle' last='Hite'] and [player_tooltip player_id='491850' first='Ashton' last='McGuire'] hope to make an impact at defensive specialist along with Meade County freshman Reese Padgett. Five Elizabethtown players in Breanna Boley, Rachel Moberly, Mia Miller, Katelyn Selph and Lucy Kessinger grace the roster. Bethlehem's Kyli Davidson and Nelson County's [player_tooltip player_id='749561' first='Annalyn' last='Isaacs'].</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Kelli White is the team's head coach. The team next plays in the Super Slam on is Feb. 8 and 9 in Louisville at MidAmerica Sports Center.</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":["535275"],"_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-67a1801dad029"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">Mantooth is a productive player at all six spots on the court. She can paint the back line from the back row when needed. Mantooth has a quick swing and knows how to angle balls around blockers. She possesses a tough line shot. She forms a sound double block and has good first touches. Mantooth can make smooth transitions from defense to offense. Mantooth had 309 kills, 37 solo blocks, 29 assisted blocks and 218 digs to help Adair County go a school record 22-10 on the season.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["533344"],"_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-67a184f4845dc"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">Moore has turned into a powerful hitter for the Bulldogs. She can record big kills when John Hardin needs them. Moore makes sound first passes then swiftly transitions to offense. Moore can also land big aces when needed. Moore had 308 kills, 263 digs and 45 aces for John Hardin this past fall.</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":"Sofia Romero-Padilla","_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":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"North Hardin Classical","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Elizabethtown Volleyball Academy","_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-67a184f484688"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">Romero-Padilla has developed a great passing form and it has continued in club season as the libero. It does not matter which way she has to go. Romero-Padilla will do everything she can to track them down. She can handle both hard and soft hits to make consistent two to three-point passes. Romero-Padilla had 487 digs for the Falcons this past season.</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":"Kinsley Unseld","_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":"5'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Thomas Nelson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Elizabethtown Volleyball Academy","_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-67a188f6c888c"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">Unseld displayed some potential to take over the libero spot next season for the Generals this past season. Unseld hustles hard after balls to make sound passes and has a sound diving serve. It is a matter of continuing to improve each game.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["491850"],"_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-67a18960b410e"} -->
<!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} -->
<p class="text-gray-700">McGuire (pictured) has the talent to make some things happen at the net these next two years for the Generals. It is a matter of reps to develop consistency. McGuire showed she can hit balls off blockers for big kills and dives hard after balls defensively.</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 -->
The 5th Region saw a number of sophomores emerge this past season and a number of them are playing together in this age group.
HEIGHT
5'7"
POS
MB/OH
CLASS
2027
State:
Kentucky
School:
Adair County
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
State:
Kentucky
School:
John Hardin
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
School:
North Hardin Classical
Club:
Elizabethtown Volleyball Academy
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
HEIGHT
5'2"
POS
DS/L
CLASS
2027
School:
Thomas Nelson
Club:
Elizabethtown Volleyball Academy
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
HEIGHT
5'8"
POS
RS/MB
CLASS
2027
State:
Kentucky
School:
Thomas Nelson
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading
Already a subscriber?
Log in