MidAmerica Volleyball Academy 18s Overview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some of these players are headed to the next level, but it is the final club season for many of them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Select</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manual senior [player_tooltip player_id='642357' first='Kennedy' last='Dawson'], Bullitt East senior [player_tooltip player_id='734303' first='Jaylen' last='Wheatley'] and Mercy senior Maddie Green start things off at either the libero or defensive specialist positions. Whitefield Academy senior Ellie Lawrence is also a defensive specialist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three talented setters take it from there in Taylor County senior [player_tooltip player_id='159348' first='Emily' last='Melton'], Mercy senior [player_tooltip player_id='245633' first='Maia' last='Marin'] and Sacred Heart senior [player_tooltip player_id='477212' first='Sarah' last='Kempf']. All three are playing at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four talented hitters round out the roster starting with Nelson County senior outside/opposite hitter [player_tooltip player_id='477135' first='Remmi' last='Cooke']. Frankfort senior [player_tooltip player_id='531310' first='Kendall' last='Cook'] packs some punch at middle hitter and outside hitter. Manual outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='588564' first='Brooke' last='Ciresi'] and Pleasure Ridge Park senior Aliah Jones round out the roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abigail Westenhofer is the head coach of this team. The team has gone 2-3 in the Ohio Valley 18s Qualifier in Columbus, finishing out the tournament in the 18 Open Bronze Bracket on Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All but two players on the roster are seniors and they both happen to come from the 30th District. One is Collins outside hitter/defensive specialist Sofie Aspillaga and the other is Spencer County junior defensive specialist/libero Sophia Hogue.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bullitt East senior Alexis Kowalczuk will also start things off at defensive specialist with Louisville Central setter Sydnee Scott setting things up. Male senior [player_tooltip player_id='159406' first='Ava' last='Hollis'] will also play defensive specialist and hit from the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team has a lot of firepower from the outside. Male senior Kindra Humphrey and Bullitt East senior Shelby Parker hit from the right side with Ballard senior Macie Paxton hitting there or the other outside hitter spot. North Bullitt senior Kendall Barrett rounds out the roster as an outside/opposite hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nicole Belcher is the head coach of the team. The team next plays in the 18 Club Division of the Nike President's Day Classic in St. Louis Feb. 15-17.</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":["477135"],"_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-679ef7b4956ad"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cooke came back to finish her club career for MAVA. Her patience is admirable. Cooke does not take her steps toward the net until the ball arrives where she can comfortably place it down. Cooke is a fundamentally sound hitter looking to take a number of steps before college. Cooke has also turned into a sound passer and server. Cooke still had 389 kills, 254 digs, 63 aces, 46 solo and 17 assisted blocks, helping Nelson County win a third straight 19th District championship, despite missing part of the season with an injury.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["159348"],"_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-679ef7b49570b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Meton is still doing a lot of setting for the club team, but she's also trying her hand in a lot of other areas with the team's depth at setter. She continues to dive after balls like crazy and is also taking some swings in the offense. Her willingness to learn could be a valuable asset during not only club season, but also at the next level. Melton had 917 assists, 105 kills, 260 digs and 57 aces, helping the Cardinals go 25-11 and win a third straight 20th District crown this past fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["172954"],"_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-679ef96a0a42d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Green did what she could to help add on to the tradition of the Mercy program, constantly hustling after balls with every ounce of her body. She continues to improve setting up hitters out of system. Green had 554 digs and 44 aces helping Mercy go 28-15, winning 24th District and 6th Region crowns, then finish state runner-up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["159406"],"_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-679efc9cd7372"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hollis provided the Bulldogs a nice defensive presence. She consistently proved she could dig up sound hitters all season. Hollis made a number of one-arm saves during the season. Hollis also possesses a sinking, line drive serve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["484546"],"_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-679efe34b8df7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aspillaga continues to add on to her game during club season. She has a phenomenal approach to the net and is a hustler on defense. Her sinking serve is hard for opponents to handle. She had 203 kills, 254 digs and 58 aces this past season, helping Collins go 21-13, win the 30th District for the first time since 2018 and advance to the 8th Region semifinals for the first time since 2017.</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. 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