Union Volleyball Club 15s Teams Outlook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Union club teams generally prepare players for the tough stretches of high school ball in one of the hotbeds in the country. Some have made their splashes on varsity, but many are learning the ropes for the most part.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UA Black</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mercy freshmen duo of [player_tooltip player_id='611834' first='Nalani' last='Derringer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='554148' first='Emma' last='Cronen'] finished second and fourth on the state runner-up squad in kills. The 5-10 Derringer plays middle blocker and the 5-9 Cronen takes care of things on the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two others off this team saw a good bit of varsity action last year. Louisville Holy Cross sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='733407' first='Kaylee' last='Clemons'] played all 39 games at defensive specialist and could see more this fall with some big graduations and South Oldham freshman [player_tooltip player_id='612086' first='Olivia' last='Welsh'] could also see more action at the same spot for similar reasons after playing in 25 games last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Oldham freshman [player_tooltip player_id='752630' first='Raleigh' last='Becker'] could also play libero/defensive specialist for this team. Sacred Heart freshman [player_tooltip player_id='788409' first='Cate' last='Bakken'] and Mercy freshman [player_tooltip player_id='774929' first='Allie' last='Herbert'] could play setter or opposite hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore Chloe Kremer is also listed at opposite hitter on the team. Providence freshmen [player_tooltip player_id='741564' first='Isabella' last='Manos'] gives the team size at middle blocker at 6-2 and [player_tooltip player_id='747454' first='Hadley' last='Hasselbring'] provides depth at outside hitter and defensive specialist.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mercy head coach Connie Hulsmeyer guides the team. The team took third in the Central Zone Invitational 15 Open and next plays in the Pioneer Bid Tournament on March 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UA Green</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of these players dressed in North Oldham 5-9 outside hitter Ashley Fix, but did not play any varsity. Manual freshman Hadley Yarbrough joins her there along with Manual teammate Carly Sanford and Mercy freshman [player_tooltip player_id='951002' first='Audrey' last='Williams']. Sanford and Williams will also play on the right side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assumption freshman [player_tooltip player_id='896469' first='Bryn' last='Haley'] is listed at middle blocker. The other middle is Sacred Heart freshman [player_tooltip player_id='895820' first='Avery' last='Pryor'], who will also play some outside. Providence freshman Aubrey Fromme and Floyd Central freshman [player_tooltip player_id='932714' first='Autumn' last='Engle'] are playing defensive specialist roles and the setter is Floyd Central freshman [player_tooltip player_id='914656' first='Madelyn' last='Dytrych'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Patrick Sanford is the head coach of the team. The team next plays in the Pioneer Bid tournament in Louisville on March 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UA Blue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Collins freshman outside hitter [player_tooltip player_id='779974' first='Gina' last='Sageser'] played limited varsity action last year, but hopes to fill in a big spot for the Titans in the fall. Silver Creek freshman Berlyn Duke plays setter and outside hitter with Clare Cadle also playing on the right side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Oldham 5-11 freshman Sydney McGraw and Lyla Skees play middle blocker with Sophie Gianzero playing middle and outside. Mercy freshman Elayna Crigler is another setter. The three defensive specialists are Mercy freshman Maelynn Dunlap, Sidney Lee and North Oldham freshman [player_tooltip player_id='780009' first='Bella' last='Roederer'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Matthew Fix is the team's head coach. The team won the MLK Extravaganza 15 Club/Select crown and the 16 Green Union Classic. The team plays in the Cinci Super Cup on March 1 and 2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Purple</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has made some noise early on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Silver Creek freshman Averie Sanders and Reese Briscoe play libero/defensive specialist with both Christian Academy of Indiana's [player_tooltip player_id='935828' first='Emma' last='Doss'] and Lily Weber playing both outside hitter and defensive specialist. The lone listed middle blocker is Morgan Kreutzer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team has two setters that also play defensive specialist in Corydon Central's Khloe Kraft and Ella Daniels. Floyd Central freshman Emory Hegedus and Kylee Doehrman are the outside hitters with Addison Dunn playing right side hitter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>David Dunn is this team's head coach. The team has won two tournaments on the season in the Early Bird Shootout 15 Girls Division and the 15 Club Division President's Day Tournament. The next tournament is also the Cinci Super Cup on March 1 and 2.</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":["554148"],"_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-67b692fd23467"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cronen was already tough on the go routes during her freshman season, but has found ways to become tougher during club season. Cronen makes crip passes then quickly transitions to offense. She puts great power into balls and mixes in softer hits to land between defenders. Cronen has shown she can angle balls off blockers. Cronen does not hesitate to use her left hand when needed to give defenses something extra to consider.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["611834"],"_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-67b692fd234bf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Derringer (pictured) may not be the tallest middle blocker on the court at times, but she makes up for it with her athleticism and skill. Derringer continuously finds ways to power balls off or around blockers. Derringer also controls the net defensively with her sound blocking.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["733407"],"_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-67b692fd23505"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Clemons is showing she may be ready to take some next steps for the Cougars in the fall. Clemons has some nice range. She can dive to her sides to dig up hard hit balls and move forward quickly to cover softer hits. Her serving is coming around as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["612086"],"_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-67b69622ed669"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Welsh is a fundamentally sound defensive specialist. Welsh reacts to balls quickly and makes nice passes. She is not afraid to dive forward to dig up softer hit balls.</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='779974' first='Gina' last='Sageser']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_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":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Collins","_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-67b699c77345e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Collins needs some players to step in and fill hitting roles this fall and Sageser is taking steps to do that. She has a nice cross-court shot and can angle balls off blockers. Sageser can quickly transition from offense to defense.</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 -->