Union 16 Teams Overview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Union teams have not only put together more solid squads.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16 Black</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three sophomores from state power Mercy grace this roster. Outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='484254' first='Alli' last='Riegling'] had a monster season for the Jaguars helping them drive to the state semifinal game. The 5-11 Josie Hans hopes to contribute more in the middle and the 5-10 [player_tooltip player_id='785485' first='Gracie' last='Sciortino'] hopes to contribute on the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of twins from Louisville Holy Cross hopes to keep improving during club season. They are 5-10 outside hitter Brianne Stoff and middle blocker Delaney Stoff.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defending 8th Region champion North Oldham also boasts two returning players on this team. The 6-2 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='724992' first='Berkeley' last='Baxter'] looks to run things at setter and right side hitter and the 5-3 [player_tooltip player_id='547082' first='Ashlyn' last='Thompson'] hopes to do the same at libero/defensive specialist. Sacred Heart sophomore Hannah Hillerich could also contribute there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two setters round out the roster. They are 5-10 Elizabethtown junior [player_tooltip player_id='533345' first='Addison' last='Janes'] and Providence sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='784260' first='Lucy' last='Tappel']. Tappel will also play outside hitter and Janes will also play some opposite hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Denise Ranney is the team's head coach. The next event is the Pioneer Bid Tournament on March 2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UA Green</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things start with a sound all-around player in Collins sophomore outside hitter/setter [player_tooltip player_id='603802' first='Lily' last='Gutermuth']. Mercy sophomore setter [player_tooltip player_id='544366' first='Addison' last='Randol'] also brings a wealth of experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Harrison sophomore Reese Schneider and Louisville Holy Cross junior Ellery Warnock are the defensive specialists along with Mercy sophomore Payton Craddock. The team has a nice balance of middle and outside hitters. Madison sophomore Anna Black and New Albany sophomore Paisley Knoy are middle blockers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Oldham sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='774766' first='London' last='Bayless'] gives the team an outside presence along with Silver Creek sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='481395' first='Layla' last='Wheatley']. Floyd Central sophomore Keylee Kruer will play outside hitter or defensive specialist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team's head coach is Taylor Wilson-Evanczyk. The team won the 16 Premier Blue Division with a spotless 7-0 record in the Central Zone Invitational then went 6-3 in the Nike President's Day Classic in St. Louis good for third in the 16 Premier Red Division. The next event is the Pioneer Bid Tournament on March 2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UA Blue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has a number of up and coming players as well. Our Lady of Providence 5-3 sophomore Shelby Blake is the defensive specialist/libero. Providence sophomore Jayda Kempf and North Harrison sophomore sienna Wetzel also play defensive specialist. Meade County sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='603276' first='Allie' last='Glover'] at 5-10 will play outside hitter and defensive specialist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Silver Creek sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='557011' first='Samantha' last='Marks'] is the setter along with Christian Academy of Indiana sophomore Maddie Webb. Webb will also play some opposite hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team has depth at middle blocker with freshman Mia Kaiser and Charlestown sophomore Izabella Combs. North Oldham sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='774992' first='Annalise' last='Austin'] plays both middle and outside with Kentucky Country Day sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='535207' first='Isla' last='Ford'] playing an outside hitting position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team's head coach is Kelly Falcone. This team won the 16 Club championship going 6-0 in the President's Day Cup in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The team next plays in the Cincinnati Super Cup on March 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Purple</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carroll County junior Josie Dale at middle hitter brings the most experience to this team. North Harrison sophomore O'Neal Lisey joins her at middle and right side hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christian Academy of Indiana sophomore Carly Stevens, Floyd Central (Indiana) sophomore Taylor Watson and North Oldham sophomore Marley Edwards are the defensive specialists. The two setters are North Oldham sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='885831' first='Chloe' last='Clark'] and South Oldham sophomore Sophie Salmon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three outside hitters round out the roster. Oldham County sophomore Sammy Heady is one with Oldham County sophomore Kayli Adams and Silver Creek sophomore Katelyn Saul will play there and on the right side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The head coach of the team is Louisville Central head coach Ashley Fabrizi. The team is 16-8 on the season, taking second in the 16 Girls Division of the Early Bird Shootout (15s-18s). The team next plays in the Cincinnati Super Cup on March 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gold</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other travel team in this group can not be looked past.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Borden sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='586728' first='Anastasia' last='Jablonski'], Charlestown sophomore Lilyan Hatfield, Louisville Central sophomore Shree Martin, Floyd Central (Indiana) sophomore Elle Pendleton and Brownstown Central sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='720971' first='Alex' last='Davidson'] are the defensive specialists. Portland Christian sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='535220' first='Kaylee' last='Hammond'] is the setter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brenleigh Birkemeier of South Oldham is an outside/right side hitter and Corydon Central sophomore Harlowe Anderson will play both outside and middle hitter with Mercy sophomore Lilly Peavier playing opposite hitter. Jenna Woten rounds out the roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team's head coach is Cara Bulington. The team also plays in the Cincinnati Super Cup on March 1.</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":["533345"],"_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-67b3a90464c21"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Janes had a monster season setting the ball as a junior and hope to keep the good habits going forward during club and into her senior season. Janes has a great jump set forward and backward leading to more accuracy. Janes also does a great job going hard after balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["603802"],"_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-67b3b08a22d68"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gutermuth is a sound all-around player for the Titans giving them and 16 Green options during the respective seasons. Gutermuth does a great job keeping teams guessing. She sets up her teammates in a number of ways then mixes in setter dumps. Gutermuth also takes powerful swings and plays sound defense. She has a sinking jump serve and her blocking has taken steps forward during club season as well. Gutermuth had 244 kills, 404 assists, 264 digs, 52 aces and 15 assisted blocks in the fall, helping Collins go 21-13, win the 30th District title for the first time since 2018 and make it to the 8th Region semifinals for the first time since 2017.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["535207"],"_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-67b3c5a939bb8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ford does a fine job controlling the net offensively and defensively. She eyes the defense then makes the necessary hitting adjustments. She sends one flying on one play then lands something soft on the next play. Ford does not hesitate to push overpassed balls to corners.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["547082"],"_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-67b3ce3b2ba56"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Thompson is doing a great job patrolling the back for the UA Black squad. Thompson calls off teammates then makes sound passes to start the offensive rhythm. She's also not afraid to go low to make pancake digs. Thompson puts her hands up quick to make saves on hard balls.</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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