Rising Heights 15s Teams Overview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two teams have some players that should be on the radars of various college coaches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Purple</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The LKY Homeschool Athletics have two talented players on this roster. They are 5-3 sophomore defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='735813' first='Grace' last='Grider'] and 5-8 freshman outside hitter/defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='740672' first='Phoebe' last='Ashbrook'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nelson County sophomore Journee Cundiff will play defensive specialist or opposite hitter with Bardstown freshman Aubree Calbert playing defensive specialist or right side hitter. Audrey Mason from Bullitt East will play outside hitter. Rounding out the roster are Bullitt Central sophomore Natalie Hibbard, Bethlehem's Dailynn Mitchell, Devynn Demuesy, Kira Conely and Kaitlyn Exely.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team is 9-5 on the season after recording a win in the 15 Girls Super Slam in early February. Cierra Merrick is the team's head coach. The next tournament is March 22 and 23 in Louisville in the Spring Break Blast.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>White</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fairdale sophomore defensive specialist [player_tooltip player_id='756946' first='Kyndal' last='Stallard'] brings two seasons of varsity experience to this team. She made some strides this past season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Bullitt freshman Maddison Wilkins and Bethlehem freshman Diana Delgado also hope to make an impact on the team. Rounding out the roster are Isabella Burkley, Alexah Hale, Rachel Williams, Addison Robinette, Kadence Dunn, Kate Hall and Mackenzie Calvert.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The head coach is Bella Higdon. The team's next March 15 and 16 in the Thoroughbred Challenge in Louisville.</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":["735813"],"_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-67c9096840333"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising Heights coach Craig Merrick describes Grider as a high-level libero that does well defensively consistently passing settable balls on serve reception. Her instincts are an added plus to the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["740672"],"_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-67c90968403b8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Merrick said Ashbrook is a skilled outside hitter that takes over games with a number of high level shots. Ashbrook made the AAU National All-Tournament team at another club last year.&nbsp;Ashbrook makes great in-air adjustments mixing in soft hands to land on good defensive specialists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["756946"],"_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-67c913a0f1df9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Stallard showed some promise as a freshman then picked things up this past season. Stallard anticipates balls and tries to make sound passes. Stallard has shown the ability to dig up sound hitters, including lefthanded shots to the deep middle. Stallard had 154 digs for the Bulldogs this past season.</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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