Kentucky Performance 18s teams overview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This marks the first season for the [program_tooltip program_id='768556' first='Kentucky' last='Performance Volleyball Club'] out in Owensboro. The club prides itself on growing players not only as players, but as individuals. Ohio County head coach Zach Hardison is the program director.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 18s teams have some of the area's more talented individuals. The pink teams play in the Open/Premier divisions at various tournaments from January to June. The blue teams play in the Club/Classic Divisions in tournaments not more than three hours from Owensboro. They are made for multi-sport athletes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18 Pink</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has won two tournaments on the season including the AAU Valentine Volley Super Regional in early February.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things begin with passes from the two senior defensive specialists in Muhlenberg County's [player_tooltip player_id='210709' first='Marlee' last='Laycock'] and Grayson County's Abigail Ray. Ray also plays some outside hitter. The setters in Castle (Indiana) senior [player_tooltip player_id='726914' first='Rylee' last='Springer'] and Owensboro's [player_tooltip player_id='477206' first='Ava' last='Fincher'] make things happen with the second passes to six talented hitters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Apollo senior [player_tooltip player_id='210631' first='Ava' last='Fazio'] commands the middle with Perry County Central (Indiana) senior Jada Etienne and Gracie Meserve, who attends Daviess County, but did not play on the team this past fall. The outside hitters are Ohio County senior [player_tooltip player_id='269848' first='Kate' last='Hoskins'], Christian County's [player_tooltip player_id='477224' first='Skylar' last='Kirby'] and Apollo senior Abigail Butterworth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brooke Hall and Emily Mattingly are the team's head coaches. The team next plays in the AAU Blue Bridge Super Regional in Owensboro on May 3 and 4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18 Blue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has a 10-6 record on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Borden (Indiana) senior Ava Martin and Grayson County senior Karla Childress start things off as defensive specialists. Owensboro Catholic junior [player_tooltip player_id='852164' first='Mayme' last='Powell'] sets up the offense if not making a first touch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then four outside hitters try to put balls down. They are Union County senior [player_tooltip player_id='499823' first='Dana' last='Curry'], Ohio County senior Kaitlyn Wilson, Henderson County junior Kamryn Raley and Perry County Central (Indiana) sophomore Klyne Kelly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brooke Hall and Emma Johnson are the head coaches.</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":["210631"],"_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-6801c07f46191"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fazio (pictured) does a great job taking advantage of her size. Her quickness also makes her tough on the middle with the sound attacks and timely blocking. Fazio pounds the ball to different parts of the court and mixes in soft hits. Fazio is especially tough on cross-court shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["477206"],"_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-6801c254b937d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fincher played a big role in leading Owensboro to the first region championship in program history. She does a good job moving her feet at all times and placing balls in the hitters' power zones. Then on defense, Fincher squares her body up to balls and makes precise two to three-point passes to set up the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["210709"],"_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-6801c254b93d1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Laycock is trying to finish her club career on a strong note. She puts her arms in good position to make sound passes. Her net coverage is also valuable. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["477224"],"_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-6801c254b941a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kirby is having a strong club season to conclude her career. Kirby takes huge cuts, sending balls flying to the ground. Her line shots are especially hard to handle. Kirby also contributes at the net with timely blocks.</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 -->