Kentucky Performance Volleyball 17s Teams Overview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Kentucky Performance Volleyball teams have taken some lumps in the first season as a club, but the hope is to see things pay off down the road. They are made up of a number of players from western Kentucky and southern Indiana.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pink</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has at least two teammates from three different schools. Senior setter Lacie Hall along with two juniors in libero Molli Sullivan and hitter Ebby Allen come from Castle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of sisters is also on this team from [highschool_tooltip highschool_id='671955' name='Owensboro'] Catholic. [player_tooltip player_id='474729' first='Molly' last='Arnold'] is a junior defensive specialist and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='749723' first='Payton' last='Arnold'] plays the same position. They are joined by two junior [highschool_tooltip highschool_id='672645' name='Henderson County'] teammates in opposite hitter [player_tooltip player_id='770769' first='Caeson' last='Hargitt'] and libero [player_tooltip player_id='770772' first='Ella' last='Whitledge'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two players round out the current roster. Tell City 6-1 middle blocker Addison Coyle brings the team size and [highschool_tooltip highschool_id='684724' name='Daviess County'] sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='770779' first='Maya' last='Pollard'] gives the team an outside option.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Emma Johnson is the team's head coach. The next tournament is the AAU Blue Ridge Super Regional at the home Owensboro Convention Center on May 3 and 4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team has some multi-sport athletes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two promising defensive specialists grace this roster in Owensboro sophomore Macey Kahn and [highschool_tooltip highschool_id='679691' name='McLean County'] junior Hadley Young. Kahn had 301 digs last fall and Young had 190. [highschool_tooltip highschool_id='676536' name='Apollo'] junior setter/defensive specialist Adelyn Dilback is also promising after recording 107 assists for the E-gals in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team has a number of hitters. That includes Owensboro sophomore middle blocker Blair Gaddis, [highschool_tooltip highschool_id='689008' name='University Heights'] outside hitter Megan Long and Jessica Lee on the right side. Gibson [highschool_tooltip highschool_id='688093' name='Southern'] junior Ella Kirby contributes at setter and right side hitter with [highschool_tooltip highschool_id='673801' name='Muhlenberg County'] junior Caroline McPherson contributing at defensive specialist. Also on the roster are Daviess County junior Jenna Lawson and Owensboro junior Paisley Martin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The next tournament is the AAU Blue Ridge Super Regional at the home Owensboro Convention Center on May 3 and 4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>White</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These teams are based out of different areas outside Owensboro. This one is based in Hopkins County and consists of big contributors all in the 2nd Region including one from defending region champion Heritage Christian in dynamic junior hitter/defensive specialist Katherine Cansler. She had 200 kills and 241 digs for the Warriors last fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[highschool_tooltip highschool_id='684523' name='Christian County'] junior defensive specialist Shiloh Baker and sophomore defensive specialist/setter [player_tooltip player_id='603865' first='Peyton' last='Owens'] put up big numbers in digs this past fall. Baker had 413 and Owens had 230.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two setters are Christian County junior [player_tooltip player_id='479318' first='Ashlea' last='[highschool_tooltip highschool_id='677444' name='Russell']'] and [highschool_tooltip highschool_id='679778' name='Crittenden County'] junior Lilah Sherer. Russell had 638 assists and Sherer dished out 609.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four hitters round out the roster. Christian County junior outside/middle Kaidence Atwell and [highschool_tooltip highschool_id='678332' name='Hopkins County Central'] Aalycia Stringer lead the way with 169 each. [highschool_tooltip highschool_id='680122' name='Hopkinsville'] sophomore outside Madysen Taggart had 117 kills with Crittenden County junior outside hitter Lacey Boone putting down 105.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["474729"],"_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-68099876a99be"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Arnold has done a good job making strides in dominating the back row during the club season. If balls come near her, Arnold does what she can to dig it up under control to keep plays alive. She has made a number of one-arm saves and even shown she can handle hard-hit balls and soft tips. Her improvement should be a big key for the Aces in the fall. Off the court, Arnold is an unselfish, outgoing person, making her easy to get to know and a good teammate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["770769"],"_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-68099876a9a4e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hargitt (pictured) gives the 17 Pink and Henderson County options at the pins and in the middle. Hargitt has a strong four-step approach to the net and places balls away from strong defenders. Her club head coach Emma Johnson said she has a great personality and attitude on the floor. Hargitt is also a sound blocker. Hargitt had 124 kills, 19 solo blocks and 18 assisted blocks for the Colonels last fall, helping them make the 2nd Region Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["770772"],"_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-68099876a9ab2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Whitledge has a great nose for the ball and it shows on the court. She's made a good number of digs for 17 Pink this fall. Whitledge does a good job hustling after balls. Her ball control could improve some, but she keeps plays alive. Whitledge is also a sound server for the team. Whitledge had 518 digs and 42 aces for Henderson County last fall, leading the Colonels to the 2nd Region Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["770779"],"_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-68099876a9b0e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pollard has a quick arm release and it shows on the outside for 17 Pink. She can hit balls hard to the back row against sound defenders. Pollard is also a sound passer and blocker. Pollard had 195 digs, 31 solo and 27 assisted blocks for Daviess County this past fall.</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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