Union 17 Teams Overview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Union Volleyball squads typically field some of the strongest players in the Louisville and surrounding areas and this year's 17 teams are no exception.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UA Black</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things start with three nice defenders specialists from 7th Region rivals. Sacred Heart junior teammates [player_tooltip player_id='253864' first='Campbell' last='Miles'] and [player_tooltip player_id='253869' first='Hilary' last='Pehlke'] team up with the 5-8 junior [player_tooltip player_id='212397' first='Iris' last='Williams'] from two-time defending state champion Assumption to start the first passes. New Albany junior [player_tooltip player_id='298601' first='Ellie' last='Scharlow'] and Brownstown Central junior [player_tooltip player_id='750544' first='Sophie' last='Wischmeier'] will play defensive specialist or outside hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spring Valley junior [player_tooltip player_id='209451' first='Maddie' last='Carnes'] will set for the team. North Oldham junior teammates [player_tooltip player_id='212386' first='Reagan' last='Baxter'] at 6-3 and [player_tooltip player_id='706522' first='Vita' last='Sensenbrenner'] give the team size in the middle. Sensenbrenner can also take swings from the outside with Eminence 5-8 junior [player_tooltip player_id='750417' first='Rylee' last='Shupert'] and New Washington's Kaylee Lawrence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Terri Puricia is the team's head coach. The team won the Martin Luther King Extravaganza 17/18 Girls Division in January. The team plays in the Nike President's Day Classic in St. Louis this Saturday through Monday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UA Green</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ballard junior libero [player_tooltip player_id='750447' first='Megan' last='Helander'] gives the team valuable varsity experience along with North Oldham junior defensive specialist Madison Conrad. Sacred Heart juniors Parker Sehlinger and Lenna Witt could also play defensive specialist. Sehlinger could also set and Witt could play outside hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Silver Creek sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='443869' first='Savannah' last='Hooe'] could set if not play outside hitter. Oldham County junior Sydney Baker and South Oldham junior Ainsley Hargrove give the team options on the outside with two 6-footers in South Oldham junior Claire Burton and Christian Academy of Indiana junior [player_tooltip player_id='499060' first='Maycee' last='Hoefler'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sarah Johnson is the team's head coach. The team also plays in the Nike President's Day Classic in St. Louis this Saturday through Monday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Purple</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Oldham junior libero Anna Grace Campbell and senior Bailey Coppinger give the team nice options at libero. Two other listed defensive specialists are Spring Valley junior Kinsey Saliba and Eastern junior [player_tooltip player_id='435838' first='Katelyn' last='Lusiak']. LucyCharles Locke, North Oldham junior [player_tooltip player_id='479310' first='Riley' last='Adams'] and Collins junior Marissa White are the setters with White and Adams also playing right side hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Emma Locke and Waggener junior Rhianna Mitchell give the team options in the middle. Louisville Holy Cross junior [player_tooltip player_id='846523' first='Braelynn' last='Logsdon'] is lefty that gives the team options on the right side and Kentucky Country Day junior Emily Barnes gives the team another outside hitting option.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The head coach is Alexis Smith. The team next plays in the President's Day Classic in Fort Wayne, Indiana on Saturday and Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gold</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Oldham lists three juniors on this roster. They are setter/opposite hitter [player_tooltip player_id='486912' first='Shannon' last='Stevison'], defensive specialist Ava Wade and outside hitter Hannah Stogner. Castle junior Elizabeth Castle is also looking to contribute at defensive specialist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sacred Heart lists two juniors on the roster in setter/defensive specialist Kayla Younger and outside hitter Addie Reed. Christian Academy of Indiana juniors Grace Oster hopes to contribute at outside/right side hitter with high school junior teammate Aiana Rightnowar looking to do that at outside hitter or defensive specialist. Corydon Central junior Brooklyn Simpson will play middle hitter or defensive specialist with Katie Mendal and Ayen Maker rounding out the roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Craig Sciortino is the team's head coach. The team next plays in the President's Day Classic in Fort Wayne, Indiana 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":["212386"],"_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-67ad5c4360d98"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Baxter is an outstanding talent at the net for the tradition-rich Mustangs. Baxter knows how to use her size to put send balls to different spots on the court and record timely blocks to control the net. She has the invaluable ability to hit off and around blockers. Baxter had 427 kills, 91 solo blocks and 57 assisted blocks to help North Oldham go 28-10 and win another 29th District and 8th Region championships.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["750417"],"_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-67ad5c4360df9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Shupert (pictured) brings balance to the Warriors. She is especially tough on go routes. Shupert hits the ball crosscourt on one play then straight to the back row on the next play. Shupert consistently makes things happen out of system. Shupert is also a sound server for Eminence. Shupert led the Warriors with 251 kills and 72 aces last year, helping them go 25-7 and make the 8th Region Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["750447"],"_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-67ad6a20a6456"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Helander played a key role in lifting the Bruins to another record-breaking season. Helander reads hitters well then quickly veers in the direction needed to dig up the ball. Helander dives to the side and quickly moves forward to make crisp passes on softer hits. Helander is experienced having seen a number of strong hitters on a nightly basis in the 7th Region. Helander also does a great job making things happen out of system. Helander had 409 digs and 52 aces helping Ballard win a school record 29 games, win the 28th District championship and make it to the 7th Region semifinals.</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":"[player_tooltip player_id='846523' first='Braelynn' last='Logsdon']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_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":"32925","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Holy Cross (Louisville)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='432012' first='UNION' last='Volleyball Club']","_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-67ad716b3d46b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Logsdon looks ready to take on a bigger role for the Cougars this fall. Logsdon is lefty that mixes in hard and soft hits. Logsdon gives opponents something different to prepare for considering her strong left side is the opposite pin of most go routes. Logsdon can tap balls to open areas of the court. Logsdon also wins jousts at the net. Logsdon had 106 kills, 63 solo and five assisted blocks for Holy Cross this past fall, helping the Cougars go 23-17, finishing All "A" state runner-up, win the 21st District title and finish 6th Region runner-up.</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 -->