Rising Heights 18s Teams Outlook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back in 2017, Whitefield Academy head coach Danielle Merrick and husband Craig's oldest daughter made the national team at a large volleyball club. Faced with a decision when looking at the expense and time commitment, they decided to start the [program_tooltip program_id='449450' first='Rising' last='Heights Volleyball Club'], which recently changed from Rolling Hills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Shepherdsville-based club site says its purpose is to give local girls the opportunity to play club ball minus the expense and time commitment of larger clubs while still letting them play high-level competition with coaching designed to enhance player skills and levels. The club has seen 31 players go on to play college volleyball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The club has three teams in this age group. The top team is the travel team with the other two being regional teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18-1 Travel</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three Bethlehem players grace this roster after helping the Banshees go 17-11 and make it to the 5th Region Tournament this past season. They are 5-6 senior libero Danika Street, 5-11 sophomore middle/outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='603333' first='Alexis' last='Lanz'] and 5-5 sophomore setter Matti Deopere. Street will play at Kentucky Christian University next fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four players come from four-time defending 23rd District champion North Bullitt. Junior Bracie Roeder is a 5-3 defensive specialist and [player_tooltip player_id='594636' first='Shaelyn' last='Woodson'] is a junior 6-0 middle hitter. The other two are outside hitters in junior 5-8 [player_tooltip player_id='508062' first='Kara' last='Gividen'] and 5-7 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='484284' first='Laila' last='Brooks']. A fifth player from the 23rd District is Bullitt Central 5-7 senior outside hitter Cali Reis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other three come from the 19th District. Junior 5-5 libero [player_tooltip player_id='741092' first='Cameron' last='Buster'] comes from Nelson County and the dynamic 5-9 junior setter [player_tooltip player_id='504705' first='Kylee' last='Best'] comes in from Bardstown. The team's tallest player is Thomas Nelson 6-1 middle/opposite hitter Emma Downing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Danielle Merrick is the team's head coach. The team is 6-4 on the season and next plays in the Cinci Super Cup on Saturday and Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18-2 Purple</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things start with four defensive specialists on first passes. They are Bullitt Central junior [player_tooltip player_id='509314' first='Alije' last='Hoxha'], Bullitt Central senior Ava Newton, Bullitt East junior Bre Crescente and 5-2 North Bullitt sophomore Diana Hernandez. The setters are LKY Home school senior Ally Compton and Bullitt East junior Brooke Morris.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team has three middle hitters in Bullitt Central 5-5 junior Emma Lay, North Bullitt junior Delaney Cranmer and Brooklyn Neat, who attends North Bullitt but did not play on the high school team last fall. Bullitt Central junior opposite hitter Clara Wicker rounds out the roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brooke Miles is the team's head coach. The team plays in the Union Challenge on Saturday and Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18-3 White</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team is a combination of juniors and seniors that are hoping to make big marks to finish their careers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bullitt Central junior Addison Pedley can play setter, defensive specialist or right side hitter and North Hardin junior Gabriella Legaspi plays defensive specialist. Also on the roster are senior Addison Peyton, a senior at Mercy that did not play on the high school team in the fall, Bullitt East junior Chaya Tylutke, North Hardin junior Alyssa Vanover and Bethlehem junior Autumn Johnson. Rounding out the roster are Bailey Karner, Hazel Paschal, Trinity Collins, Brianna Collins, Josslyn Graves and Zaria Walker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The head coach of the team is Willie Collins. The team plays in the Union Challenge on Saturday and Sunday.</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":["484284"],"_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-67bcb59abb092"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rising Heights coach Craig Merrick said Brooks is an all-around player with sound defensive skills. Merrick said she puts a lot of power into balls that easily tools the block and has a great serve. Brooks makes things happen out of system. Brooks (pictured) had 135 kills to help the Eagles go 23-10, win a fourth straight 23rd District title and make it to the 6th Region semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["504705"],"_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-67bcb59abb141"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rising Heights coach Craig Merrick said Best gives the team height at the setting position and runs numerous offensive sets while being able to mix in her own offense on setter dumps. Best provides versatility to the Tigers with sound passes and a mixture of sets including the back set. Best had 637 assists, 186 digs and 45 aces for the Tigers this past fall.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["741092"],"_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-67bce8b6576f0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Buster stepped into a huge role for the Cardinals in the fall as the libero. Buster provided outstanding first touches on spikes and serve reception, putting the tough Nelson County offense into flow. Buster hustled hard after balls making one-armed saves. Buster does a good job making things happen out of system. She can back set to her teammates when needed. Buster had 308 digs, helping the Cardinals win a third straight 19th District crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["509314"],"_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-67bce8b657748"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hoxha does a good job watching hitters then lining her arms up to balls to make crisp two to three-point passes. Hoxha patrols the back row with authority. She had 113 digs for the Cougars this past fall, helping them make it back to the 6th Region Tournament for the 12th consecutive year.</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 -->